Arktika-M

Arktika-M
Model of the Arktika-M at the Army-2023 exhibition
Mission typeMeteorology
OperatorRoscosmos
Mission duration10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNP0 Lavochkin
Launch mass2,100 kg (4,600 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date28 February 2021 (Arktika-M №1)
16 December 2023 (Arktika-M №2)
RocketSoyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorRoscosmos
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeMolniya orbit
Arktika Project

Arktika-M is a constellation of six HydroMeteorological satellite (Until 2023, Only two satellites are expected for the Constellation) developed by Roscosmos. Arktika-M satellites are based on the equipment of Elektro-L satellites[1]. The satellites operates in Molniya orbit, Where existing Elektro-L capabilities were unusable from Geostationary orbit.[2]. In 2021 and 2023, two Arktika-M satellites were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. By 2031, it is planned to launch four more hydrometeorological satellites of this type.

Background

Arktika-M constellation of satellite is officially a part of Roscosmos Arktika Project. Arktika Project is planned to provide Earth observational services and emergency communications and navigational services in Russian Far-Northern Region[3].

List of satellites

Name SATCAT Launch date (UTC) Launch vehicle Orbital apsis Inclination Period (min) Status
Arktika-M №1[4][5] 28 February 2021
06:55:01 		Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Operational
Arktika-M №2[6][7] 16 December 2023
09:17:48 		Operational
Arktika-M №3[8] 2025 Planned
Arktika-M №4[9] 2026 Planned
Arktika-M №5[10] 2027 Planned
Arktika-M №6 2028-2030 Planned

Arktika-M №1

The first satellite of the Arktika-M series №1 was originally planned to be launched before November 25, 2015. But due to sanctions from the United States[11]. the launch was postponed first to 2017[12], then to 2019[13] and then to 2020[14].

On February 28, 2021, the Arktika-M №1 spacecraft was launched on Soyuz-2.1b from Site 31/6 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome[15]. The Fregat upper stage put the satellite into the targeted orbit. On March 22, 2021, the first images received from the satellite were published. In September 2021, flight tests of the Arktika-M №1 spacecraft were completed and the spacecraft was transferred to regular operation[16][17].

Arktika-M №2

The launch of the Arktika-M №2 spacecraft took place on December 16, 2023 from the Site 31/6 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite was launched into the targeted orbit by the Fregat upper stage.

Arktika-M satellites are in Molniya orbits with a high apogee (~40,000 km) and replacing each other in turn, receive data on meteorological parameters every 30 minutes: three-dimensional wind fields, temperature, atmospheric moisture content, ice conditions in the northern seas, total atmospheric water vapor and ozone content, etc., as well as heliogeophysical data over the entire vast Arctic area above 60° N. Reception, processing, archiving and distribution of satellite data from the Arktika spacecraft are carried out on the basis of the existing State Territorially Distributed Space Monitoring System of Roshydromet.

In May 2023, the Roscosmos State Corporation and NPO Lavochkin signed a government contract to upgrade the Arktika-M system to increase its orbital group to four spacecraft. The creation and launch of Arktika-M satellites №3, 4, 5 and 6 are planned before 2031. This will make it possible to halve the frequency of polar region surveys and conduct observations of the required area from different angles, as well as to detail ultra-short-term weather forecasts, increase the efficiency of detection and monitoring of hazardous natural phenomena and emergencies, and increase the accuracy of identifying clouds over snow and ice covers and determining their characteristics in the Arctic region and adjacent territories.

Design

The Arktika-M spacecraft is based on the Navigator Bus.The mass of the satellites is 2,100 kg. The equipment installed on the satellite is almost identical to that of the Elektro-L satellites series . The payload consists of:

  • Multi-zone Scanning Device for Hydrometeorological Support (MSU-GS) — provides images of the cloud layer and the Earth's surface. Works in the infrared and visible ranges.
  • Heliogeophysical Equipment Complex (GGAK-VE).
  • Equipment for transmitting data between ground-based Meteorological stations.
  • Equipment of the Cospas-Sarsat system for retransmitting signals from emergency service[18].

See also

  • Roscosmos
  • Elektro-L Russian Geostationary Meteorological constellation
  • Meteor-M Russian Meteorological constellation that is SSO Orbit.
  • Ekspress-RV Another constellation for Russian far-North.

Reference

  1. ^ NPO Lavochkin (28 January 2021). "Spacecraft "Arktika-M" delivered to Baikonur" (in Russian). Roscosmos. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Arktika-M 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Russia builds Arctic satellite network". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M - Arktika-M n°1". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Soyuz launches first Arktika-M satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M - Arktika-M n°2". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Second Arktika satellite lifts off". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M - Arktika-M n°3". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M - Arktika-M n°4". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M - Arktika-M n°5". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  11. ^ ""Arktika" falls under State Department sanctions". Известия. 2 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Flight tests of the Arktika-M satellite system will begin in 2018". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  13. ^ "The Arktika-M satellite is planned to be launched in 2019". Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Roscosmos postponed the launch of the second meteorological satellite "Arktika-M"". РИА Новости. 4 August 2019. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. ^ Roscosmos (28 February 2021). "The Arktika-M satellite has been launched into its target orbit" (in Russian). Roscosmos. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ^ "The Arktika-M spacecraft has been accepted into operation". NPO Lavochkin. 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  17. ^ "The Arktika-M satellite with a control system developed by Rosatom has been accepted into service". ТАSS. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Hydrometeorological complex "Arktika-M"" (in Russian). NPO Lavochkin. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  • Media related to Arktika-M at Wikimedia Commons
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.