Russian Roscosmos launches first Arctic-monitoring satellite
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Moscow, Mar 1: The Russian Space agency, Roscosmos, has successfully launched its first ever Arctic-monitoring satellite that will monitor the Arctic’s climate and environment. The space agency blasted off the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket which is also carrying the Arktika-M satellite on board. The rocket was blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Feb 28, 2021. The Arktika-M spacecraft was launched to the orbit later.
The development of the Arktika-M satellite system in the highly elliptical orbits is required to collect the information in order to solve the operational meteorology problems as well as the hydrology problems. The satellite will also monitor climate and environment of the Arctic region. It will be providing round-the-clock continuous monitoring over the northern territory of Russia as well. Arktika-M satellite will also transmit the overview images of Earth’s northern polar region and the adjoining areas every 15-30 minutes.
The Russian satellite is one among a series of planned Russian remote-sensing and emergency communications satellites. The satellite is operating in the highly elliptical 12-hour orbit.The constellation of two Arktika-M satellites has also been designed to monitor the high-latitude areas of the Earth. The satellite will be based on the Lavochkin Elektro-L meteorological satellite. The payload of the satellite comprises of MSU-GSM multi-spectral imager along with the transmitters for meteorological systems and rescue systems. The first launch for the satellite was scheduled for 2013, but it has been delayed and is now finally launched in 2021.
The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities is a state corporation of the Russian Federation which is involved in the space flights, aerospace research and cosmonautics programmes. The Roscosmos emerged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the year 1991. It was initially established as the Russian Space Agency, in 1992, with its headquarters in Moscow. It has its main Mission Control Center located in the nearby city of Korolyov.