Upgrading Russia’s fleet of optical reconnaissance satellites

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The complex history and future of Russian photoreconnaissance satellites.

Russia currently has only two operational optical reconnaissance satellites in orbit, both of which may already have exceeded their design lifetime. They are to be replaced by more capable satellites carrying a primary mirror about the same size as of those believed to be flown aboard American reconnaissance satellites, but it is unclear when these will be ready to fly. An experimental satellite launched in 2018 likely is the precursor of a constellation of much smaller spy satellites that will augment the imagery provided by the big satellites.

The Space Review: Upgrading Russia’s fleet of optical reconnaissance satellites

 

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Дотянулась до космоса: завершается создание системы разведки «Лиана»

Она придет на смену знаменитой советской спутниковой группировке целеуказания «Легенда»

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The creation of the Liana marine reconnaissance and target designation system in orbit is nearing completion. Unique satellites will be able to detect enemy ships in any corner of the oceans for thousands of kilometers and accurately aim at them winged "Calibers", as well as hypersonic "Daggers" and "Zircons". What are the prospects for the system, the development of which began back in 1993, was understood by military expert Anton Lavrov.

This year, it is planned to complete the deployment of the Liana space reconnaissance and target designation system, as well as several additional elements of it, sources in the Ministry of Defense told Izvestia.

 

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images of Spektr-M which works millimeter to far infra-red wavelengths to study black holes and dark energy.

 

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That really belongs in a separate thread. It's definitely cool, but it's neither optical nor reconnaissance (military).

 

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Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket launched from Plesetsk space center — Defense Ministry

All pre-launch operations and the blastoff proceeded normally

tass.com

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The space troops of Russia’s Aerospace Forces have conducted a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center in northwestern Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said.

"At 22:50 Moscow time on Friday, June 25, an operational unit of the Space Forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces has launched a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with a new-generation spacecraft for the Russian Defense Ministry from Pad 43/4 of the Russian Defense Ministry’s State Test Cosmodrome Plesetsk in the Arkhangelsk Region," the ministry’s Department of Media Affairs and Information said.

According to the ministry, all pre-launch operations and the blastoff proceeded normally.

"The launch and flight of the carrier rocket were controlled by ground-based equipment of the Space Forces," the ministry said.

Shortly after, the ministry announced the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket had delivered the new-generation spacecraft into the designated orbit.

"The medium-lift Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket that was launched at 22:50 today, on June 25, from the Russian Defense Ministry’s State Test Cosmodrome Plesetsk in the Arkhangelsk Region, has successfully put into the designated orbit a spacecraft for the Russian Defense Ministry within the scheduled time," the ministry said.

Steady telemetry communication has been established with the spacecraft, and its on-board systems function well.

The spacecraft was placed under control of the ground services of the Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Center.

After being placed under control, the satellite was designated as Kosmos 2550.

Russia to launch new-generation military satellite

First mission of the Pion-NKS satellite | Story by Anatoly Zak | Editor: Alain Chabot

www.russianspaceweb.com