Two Arktika-M satellites conducting 24/7 weather monitoring in northern latitudes

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Two Arktika-M satellites are conducting 24/7 monitoring of the Earth's surface and the Arctic Ocean and providing images for emergency monitoring and environmental control, Roscosmos' Russian Space Systems holding said.

"Two satellites of the Arktika-M space system, alternately replacing each other, provide consumers with data for round-the-clock monitoring of the Earth's surface and Arctic seas, and relay signals from emergency beacons of the COSPAS-SARSAT international satellite search-and-rescue system and data from Roshydromet automatic measuring platforms, including those located in the Arctic region," the holding's press service said.

The information from the satellites helps Roshydromet divisions and other agencies improve the reliability of long-term and short-term weather forecasts, monitor emergencies, and conduct environmental monitoring, while providing scientists with a large amount of new data for studying global climate change, it said.

The first Arktika-M satellite was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 28, 2021, and the second one followed on December 16, 2023.

The Arktika-M satellites are designed for climate and environmental monitoring in the Arctic. The minimal system configuration is two satellites.

Roscosmos said on December 16, 2022, that it would expand the Arktika-M satellite group from two to four satellites. It also said that the development of the Arktika-MP weather satellite would begin in 2026.