The second Condor-FKA satellite was launched into orbit – together they will provide super-resolution images of land and ocean

Today at 00:50 Moscow time, the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage and the Condor-FKA satellite No. 2 launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Amur region. Soon the satellite was launched into a target orbit at an altitude of up to 550 km. With the launch of the second Condor, the mini-constellation of these satellites was able to operate in interferometer mode, receiving radar images of land and the World Ocean in increased resolution.

Image source: “Roskosmos”

The satellite’s equipment includes a synthetic aperture radar developed by the Vega concern, which is part of Ruselectronics. The locator is designed to obtain high and medium resolution radar images: from 12 to 1 meter. The device is equipped with a lightweight umbrella-type reflector antenna and provides all-weather, 24-hour observation in a strip of the earth’s surface parallel to the flight path of the spacecraft.

The first Condor-FKA satellite was launched into space in May 2023 and put into operation in January 2024. Images from the first and second Condors are intended for use in a number of sectors of the economy, including when laying routes along the Northern Sea Route, as well as for environmental monitoring. The estimated operating time of the satellites is five years. The working orbits of the devices are circumpolar, sun-synchronous, with a slight offset relative to each other, which will allow imaging of the earth’s surface in the range from 85° north latitude to 85° south latitude.

admin

Share
Published by
admin

Recent Posts

Why aren’t today’s semiconductors good enough for AI?

The smaller the manufacturing standards by which a chip is made, the higher its density…

9 hours ago

Asus Launches Gold ROG Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab Edition Graphics Card — Price Reaches $10,600

Earlier this year, at Nvidia's GTC 2025 conference, Asus showed off what is probably the…

10 hours ago

Legendary Quake Inducted into World Video Game Hall of Fame Along with Pet Simulator Tamogotchi

The International Center for Video Game History at The Strong Museum in New York has…

10 hours ago

MSI Releases New Version of Claw 8 AI+ Gaming Console — White Case and Up to 2TB Storage for $999

At the end of last year, MSI introduced the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7…

11 hours ago

Apple to Go Beyond in 2027 with Robot, Smart Glasses, and Foldable iPhone Plans

2027 could be one of the most significant years for Apple. The company plans to…

13 hours ago

FTC’s ‘One-Click Unsubscribe’ Rule Delayed Again, But Not for Long

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed a rule that would require companies to…

1 day ago