The Russian remote sensing satellite "Resurs-P" No. 4, which on March 31 was sent into Earth orbit, is undergoing testing of its equipment. Like other satellites in this group, it explores natural resources, monitors environmental pollution, supports researchers from Earth in the search for mineral deposits, assesses the state of the ice situation, and performs cartography. "Resurs-P" No. 4 is also involved in monitoring emergency situations: it tracks floods, high water, fires, and the consequences of earthquakes in Russia and the world. For example, it recorded the consequences of a powerful downpour in Dubai on April 15, the largest in 75 years according to the National Meteorological Center of the UAE.
Over Russia, it helps to monitor the territories that have been affected by floods and high water. This is how part of Orsk in the Orenburg region looked on April 11. The water is receding after the dam near the city was breached and more than two thousand people were evacuated.
High-precision domestic equipment from the "Shvabe" holding – the "Geoton-L1" optoelectronic equipment – helps the satellite to take highly detailed images of the Earth from space.
The equipment of the "Rostech" subsidiary allows to identify places of emergency incidents and collect the most accurate maps of the area. "Geoton-L1" recognizes objects as small as 70 cm with high reliability, despite the fact that the satellite is at a distance of 475 km from the Earth's surface. For example, thanks to "Geoton-L1", you can see the FC "Krasnodar" stadium and the surrounding area from a height.
And this is how the heavy rocket "Angara-A5" looked "through the eyes" of "Resurs-P" before launching from Vostochny at the launch complex.
"Shvabe" also developed special hyperspectral GSA equipment for the "Resurs-P" satellite. It is engaged in surveying the Earth's surface in at least 120 narrow spectral ranges.
The images taken by the GSA allow for spectral analysis of the atmosphere, forests, crops, soil, geological formations, as well as determining the moisture content and composition of the soil, diseases of agricultural crops, the level of water pollution and many other parameters that are important to scientists on Earth.
It is known that in 2025, instead of "Resurs-P", their more advanced versions, the "Resurs-PM" satellites, will begin to be launched into space. "Resurs-PM" have received a number of new options — for example, the ability to detect launches and flights of rockets, work as a telescope and receive much higher resolution images.