Roscosmos shared the first picture sent from its working place in Earth orbit by the hydrometeorological satellite "Arktika-M" No. 2. It was launched from Baikonur on December 16, 2023.
The satellite is now in a working highly elliptical orbit of the Molniya type with an inclination to the equator of 63.3 degrees, an apogee altitude of approximately 38,900 km and a perigee of approximately 1,400 km. As noted in the press service of Roscosmos, "all service systems of the spacecraft are functioning normally".
Two Arktika-M satellites alternately replace each other in the working areas of the orbits and continuously monitor the northern territory of Russia and the Arctic region. In total, there will be six "Arctic-M".
Starting with the second satellite in the series, the devices receive enhanced equipment protection from space exposure and radiation. The modernized onboard control complex is assembled by specialists from the "daughter" of Rosatom, the Moscow Experimental Design Bureau "Mars".
Material on the topic:
Dawn at Baikonur: what Arktika-M and the launch vehicle look like at the start before launch - photo
