Russia has completed the assembly of the flight model of the new Earth remote sensing (ERS) satellite KOEN (complex of optoelectronic observation), which will be the first domestic civilian spacecraft with a shooting resolution of up to 0.5 meters per pixel. Developers have begun testing onboard systems and preparing ground infrastructure for control and data processing.
The creation of the apparatus is carried out by specialists with the support of the National Technology Initiative Project Support Fund. After completing checks, the satellite is planned to be launched into low Earth orbit in the third quarter of 2026.
KOEN is designed to obtain ultra-high-detail images of the Earth. The satellite's sensor will be able to operate in the visible range with a spatial resolution of 50 centimeters per pixel, and the swath width will be 12 kilometers. These parameters will allow the use of the apparatus's data for precise mapping, environmental monitoring, geoanalytics, and commercial services.
Currently, the spacecraft is undergoing automated electrical and radio engineering tests, which should confirm the operability of all onboard systems and compliance with the stated characteristics. In parallel, specialists are deploying the ground complex: a control station for communication with the satellite and an information processing system that will convert the received images into ready analytical data.
KOEN is designed to operate at an altitude of about 500 kilometers and should remain in orbit for at least five years. Annually, the apparatus will be able to provide imaging of an area of up to 15 million square kilometers, which is comparable to most of Russia's territory.