Vladivostok, 30 November (IANS). Russia successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1A rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country’s Far East on Saturday morning. The rocket successfully placed the Condor-FKA No. 2 radar satellite into the target orbit.
Equipped with advanced radar technology, the Condor-FKA satellites have enabled the country to conduct all-weather, round-the-clock Earth observations, Xinhua news agency reported.
“The second radar satellite, Condor-FKA, has reached orbit! The launch system worked as planned,” Russia’s space agency Roscosmos announced in a statement.
Unlike optical satellites, the Condor-FKA series can observe Earth through clouds and operate in darkness. Due to this quality, these satellites are very capable for various types of tasks. These tasks include mapping, environmental monitoring, natural resource exploration, and guiding ships on ice-covered routes, such as in the sea route during northern polar nights.
These satellites of the Condor series, developed by the NPO Mashinostroynia Design Bureau, have made steady progress since their inception. The first two satellites were launched in 2013 and 2014, while Condor-FKA No. 1 entered orbit in 2023. Two more satellites are currently under construction, with a third, Condor-FKA, to be launched in 2026.
Each Condor-FKA satellite weighs approximately 1,050 kg and has a life span of five years.
–IANS
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