Russia on early Saturday launched the Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome within the nation’s far east, inserting the Kondor-FKA2 radar satellite tv for pc into orbit.
The satellite tv for pc, geared up with superior radar expertise, is designed for all-weather, round the clock Earth remark. Unlike optical satellites, the Kondor-FKA sequence can penetrate cloud cowl and function in darkness, making them invaluable for duties equivalent to mapping, environmental monitoring, pure useful resource exploration, and guiding vessels via ice-covered routes just like the Northern Sea Route throughout polar nights.
“The second radar satellite tv for pc Kondor-FKA has reached orbit! The launch methods labored as deliberate,” Russia’s area company Roskosmos introduced.
The Kondor-FKA2 was delivered to the Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 14, 2024. The satellite tv for pc traveled by air and street earlier than being ready on the storage facility’s thermal chamber.
Developed by the NPO Mashinostroyeniya design bureau, the Kondor sequence has seen constant developments since its inception. The preliminary satellites had been launched in 2013 and 2014, whereas the primary Kondor-FKA satellite tv for pc entered orbit in 2023. The sequence is ready to increase additional, with two extra satellites beneath development and the third Kondor-FKA launch scheduled for 2026.
Weighing roughly 1,050 kilograms, every Kondor-FKA satellite tv for pc has an operational lifespan of 5 years.
