Following the acceptance of the Arktika-M satellite No. 2 into operation by a state commission, Russia has become the first nation to establish a space monitoring system for the Arctic, according to the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos.
Building on the success of the Arktika-M No. 1, the Arktika-M No. 2 spacecraft has passed rigorous tests, demonstrating its advanced capabilities. In conjunction with Its Predecessor, this spacecraft will ensure an uninterrupted and dependable exchange of meteorological data and continuous monitoring of the Earth’s surface and cloud cover in the Arctic region and neighboring areas.
Additionally, as a component of the international satellite search and rescue system known as “COSPAS-SARSAT,” the instruments from these satellites are used to ascertain the whereabouts of ships, aircraft, and other mobile objects that are in distress.
The hydro-meteorological satellite “Arktika-M” No. 2 is in a working highly elliptical orbit of the “Molniya” type with an inclination to the equator of 63.3 degrees, an apogee height of approximately 38,900 km, and a perigee height of roughly 1,400 km.
The spacecraft, developed by the S.A. Lavochkin Scientific and Production Association, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 16, 2023, by the “Soyuz-2.1b” carrier rocket with the “Fregat” upper stage. The first “Arktika” was launched in February 2021.
Despite the challenges and restrictions it faces, Russia continues to shine as one of the top five leaders in weather forecasting services worldwide. In 2023, Roscosmos further solidified this position by successfully launching four meteorological satellites: ‘Electro,’ ‘Meteor,’ ‘Condor,’ and ‘Arktika-M No. 2.
