Russia launches “Arktika-M” satellite to monitor Arctic’s climate and environment

Russia, on February 27, launched its first satellite that is aimed at monitoring the Arctic region’s climate and environment. As per a statement by the country’s Space Agency Roscosmos, the satellite ‘Arktika-M’ was launched at 9:55 am (Russian time) from Baikonur Cosmodrome, a space port leased to Russia in Kazakhstan.

The satellite was carried by Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket.

Key Highlights

• Russia plans to send up a second satellite in 2023 and, combined, the two will offer round-the-clock, all-weather monitoring of the Arctic Ocean and the surface of the Earth.
• As per the Russian Space Agency, the satellite, at the right orbit, was equipped to monitor and take pictures of the arctic every 15-30 minutes.
• Additionally, it will also be able to retransmit distress signals from ships, aircraft or people in remote areas as part of the international Cospas-Sarsat satellite-based search-and-rescue program.
• Meanwhile, Russia is also mulling to put nearly 40 satellites in orbit from over a dozen different countries using the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket in March, a space industry source told Sputnik.
• In November, it was revealed that a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with Fregat booster was going to blast off with South Korean CAS500-1 space vehicle from the Bikanour space station in March this year.
• However, it has now been revealed that other payloads are also planned to be delivered in orbit as a part of the larger mission.

SOURCE: The Hindu, BBC News

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