Satellites "Condor" and their prospects

Scheme of the spacecraft "Kondor-FKA" in the working position

The Russian orbital constellation for civil purposes has been replenished with a new spacecraft for remote sensing of the Earth. The Condor-FKA product has been launched into orbit and will soon begin full-fledged work. He will have to carry out radar surveys of the planet's surface as part of various studies. In addition, the launch of another apparatus of this type is planned for the foreseeable future.

scientific grouping

History series of spacecraft for remote sensing of the Earth (KA ERS) "Kondor" dates back to the 2013s, when NPO Mashinostroeniya was developing the basic projects of the future line. In June 2014, the first satellite was launched into orbit, and in December XNUMX, the second one was sent into space. It was reported that two spacecraft are intended for radar monitoring of the earth's surface and oceans, as well as conducting various studies in the interests of the armed forces and civilian structures.

In 2014, the state corporation Roscosmos held a competition for the creation of a new satellite of the series, designated as Condor-FKA. At the end of the year, NPO Mashinostroeniya again received a contract for its development. The association completed the project of the satellite and related facilities, and the creation of a remote sensing radar complex with specified characteristics was entrusted to the Vega concern.

At the turn of the decade, the Condor-FKA project reached the stage of manufacturing spacecraft and preparing for their launch. At the current stage, it is planned to create a constellation of two satellites. This number already makes it possible to ensure the required level of spacecraft presence in the given areas and to fulfill the assigned tasks.

Satellite in the process of being installed on a launch vehicle

In recent weeks, the organizations participating in the project have been preparing the launch of the first spacecraft of a new modification. The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Fregat upper stage carrying the Kondor-FKA product took place on May 27 around midnight Moscow time. A few hours later, Roskosmos announced the successful entry of the device into a given orbit.

Preparations for the second start have already begun. In the next 2024, the second Kondor-FKA remote sensing spacecraft will be sent into orbit, but the exact date has not yet been announced. The second pair of such satellites will be built and launched into space at the end of the decade. In addition, plans have been made for the more distant future. In the coming years, a modernized satellite "Kondor-FKA-M" will be developed. It will start operating around 2030.

In the small class

"Kondor-FKA" is a spacecraft of a small (in size and mass) class, equipped with radar equipment. With the help of the latter, the satellite must carry out remote sensing of the Earth. It is planned to survey the land and the surface of the oceans to collect the necessary information. The tasks of the satellite include the creation of maps, control over natural resources, various environmental studies, information support for various ground operations and events, etc.

The new remote sensing satellite has a mass of 1050 kg and is distinguished by a characteristic layout. The device received a rectangular case, on which folding solar panels and a rod-base of the antenna device are fixed. When deployed in orbit, the satellite must open the antenna mirror and other units. The mirror has an effective diameter of 6 m and weighs approx. 100 kg. It is reported that the device is distinguished by the maximum degree of localization - the share of domestic components has approached 100%.

Preparing the rocket for launch

The Kondor-FKA is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar with several operating modes. The radar operates in the S-band with a wavelength of 10 cm and a frequency of 3,1-3,3 GHz. The maximum average power at the input of the antenna device is 250 W. The antenna device is rotatable, which provides a view in the right direction from the track.

There are several modes of operation of the radar. In the survey mode, the satellite surveys a band up to 100 km wide and 500 km long. The resolution is not better than 6-12 m. In the detailed continuous mode (DPR), the capture strip is reduced to 10 km with an improvement in resolution to 2-3 m. The best resolution, up to 1-2 m, is given by the detailed spotlight mode (DPR). In this case, the spacecraft captures only an area of ​​10 x 10 km. In addition, "Kondor-FKA", alone or in pairs, can operate in the interferometry mode.

The Kondor-FKA satellite is capable of conducting radar surveys of the planet's surface in any mode in the range from 85°N. up to 85°S A constellation of two satellites, depending on the selected survey object and its corresponding orbit, can monitor at least 12 hours apart. A pair of satellites in the LPR mode is capable of taking at least 200 frames per day. In other modes, the performance is much higher, but the resolution worsens. Thus, the OP mode allows you to take up to 1 million pictures per day.

One remote sensing satellite can collect and store up to 96 GB of information per day. Storage time - up to 10 days. In this case, data processing by the onboard means of the satellite is not provided. The data is transmitted to Earth; up to 16 GB is issued for one communication session.

Launch of Soyuz-2.1a with Condor, May 27

Ground facilities of the Condor-FKA complex provide primary and secondary processing of the received information. Both stages of processing take about a day. It takes about 5-10 minutes to process one high-precision radar frame in the LPR mode.

For maximum performance, both satellites will operate in circumpolar sun-synchronous orbits. Altitude - 500-550 km. In this case, the orbits will be shifted relative to each other by about 9°. Due to such orbits, it will be possible to obtain the best results both in the single operation of the vehicles and in the joint solution of problems.

Clear perspectives

The first remote sensing spacecraft "Kondor-FKA" has already entered the estimated orbit and is preparing to start full-fledged operation. Over the next few weeks or months, it will begin to film selected areas of the planet and transmit the collected radar images to Earth. Next year, a second similar device will be put into operation. Such a grouping will be able to perform all the intended tasks.

With the help of one or two new spacecraft, Roskosmos will be able to conduct various surveys of certain parts of the earth's surface or the World Ocean. It is assumed that such activities will be carried out in the interests of civil structures - scientific, commercial and other customers. However, the involvement of "Condors" in military intelligence is not excluded, but within the limits of their capabilities.

Radar image of the city obtained by the Condor satellite of the first model

In general, a new type of spacecraft is capable of solving a variety of tasks. It is expected that it will be used to compile and/or refine maps of different areas. It is also possible to use a satellite to monitor the situation in different situations. The possibility of tracking the ice situation on the Northern Sea Route, tracking forest fires, etc. is mentioned.

"Kondor-FKA" carries out remote sensing using a radar station. This means that it can perform its work at any time of the day and with virtually no restrictions on weather conditions in the survey area. In this regard, it is much more convenient and efficient than satellites with optics.

The modern radar from the Vega concern is distinguished by high performance and allows you to shoot large areas with high resolution. In addition, a high intensity of work is provided with the possibility of issuing a large number of frames. At the same time, the ground part of the complex is built on the basis of modern computing tools, which makes it faster to process data and transfer it to consumers.

New generations

It is known that the previous satellites of the Condor series and their services enjoyed a certain popularity among civilian customers. The new generation of similar devices is distinguished by improved technical and operational characteristics, and will also not be left without orders. Therefore, it can be expected that immediately after the start of full-fledged operation, the first Condor-FKA will begin active work on shooting different regions of the planet.

At the same time, the development of the civil orbital constellation will not stop. The second Condor of the new model is already being prepared for flight, and it is planned to develop the next project, again aimed at increasing the main parameters. Such satellites will appear by the beginning of the next decade, but for now the main task is the deployment of the current generation of remote sensing satellites - and it is being successfully solved.

Comments

[Ross xnumx]

The name is not Russian. Apparently in Russia there are no birds capable of soaring for hours on ascending air currents.
Name "this":

the device is distinguished by the maximum degree of localization - the share of domestic components has approached 100%.

an outstanding achievement - "the hand does not rise" ... Especially in comparison with foreign satellites capable of reading car numbers ...
Apparently, this is the fate of catching up outcasts from the Great Cosmos...
* * *
Feeling bad after reading...

[Pushkowed]

foreign satellites capable of reading license plates...

No orbital spy is capable of that. Even in theory. In any range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The problem is our earthly atmosphere. She interferes a lot. Because of this, astronomers have to create space telescopes to observe deep space from outside the atmosphere.

But the same effect works in reverse. The calculated maximum resolution when observing the earth from orbit is about 10 cm. In practice, not a single device has reached such a resolution, but the American KH-11 Kennen, it seems, came close to it. It is impossible to say for sure yet - the data on their resolution, of course, are closed.

In other words: you can see a person from space, but you can’t make out the facial features. You can see the license plate of the car, but you can't read it.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: Pushkowed

In other words: you can see a person from space, but you can’t make out the facial features. You can see the license plate of the car, but you can't read it.

In other words:

Let's argue about the taste of oysters and coconuts with those who ate them, to the point of hoarseness, to the point of a fight, perceiving the taste of food by ear, the color by the tooth, the stink by the eye, imagining a movie by its title, a painting by its last name, a country by the Film Travel Club ", the sharpness of opinions according to the anthology.

* * *

Quote: ROSS 42

.Especially compared to foreign satellites that can read car numbers ...

Written in the form of an allegory ... Approximately in the same way that the performance characteristics of "Sarmatians", "Poseidons", "Coalitions" and other "analogues in the world" are described ...
I am only interested in one question:
“How, with such cosmic “happiness”, does the General Staff still not have the exact coordinates of the only Ukrainian plant for the production of UAVs (and other interesting targets)?”

[Silver99]

The strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces do not allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to concentrate a group of troops directly at the line of contact, they are forced to keep large formations at least in a day's march, which does not allow launching a widely announced counteroffensive. The orbital space group has been replenished with a "condor" that will scan the territory of Ukraine at least twice a day, which will make it possible to timely identify the concentration of enemy troops and more effectively strike even in rear concentrations.

[Ivan_Vasilyevich]

Other satellites, and indeed foreigners in general, are a force ... I saw their capabilities in American cinema, we will never catch up with them

[bk0010]

Quote: ROSS 42

Especially compared to foreign satellites that can read license plates...

Even under the USSR, they read the number on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Gradually, word of mouth turned it into a car number...

[Alex_Bora]

This is a satellite for radar imaging of the Earth's surface. And about the numbers on the cars - this is about optics. And this is just a tale. See the resolution on images from the most advanced Maxar satellites. There, cars are visible, a person standing nearby is already at the level of error.

[astepanov]

First, even the Hubble space telescope cannot read the license plate of a car on earth - and not so much because of the optics as because of the turbulence in the atmosphere. Secondly, for some reason, numbers are not written on the roofs of cars. Probably so that the adversaries do not read. Thirdly (and this is written in the article) "Condor" operates not in the optical, but in the VHF band, which ensures all-weather capability. For a number of tasks, this is more important than reading car numbers. And - the icing on the cake: as soon as a pair of telescopes can operate in the interferometry mode, the resolution grows hundreds of times. This means that, if you feel like it, you can also see a separate skeptic, and in detail.

[Mikhail3]

Hubble won't read. And here he is, but with a computer program for image analysis in broadcast mode - he will read it, and how. Not even Hubble, the possibilities of optics are needed much more modestly. But the possibilities of computer scientists are opposite ...)

[Pushkowed]

even the Hubble space telescope will not read - and not even so much because of the optics, but because of the turbulence in the atmosphere

Just because of the optics. It is designed for deep space. Its optical design does not allow focusing on objects that are too close (roughly speaking, for the same reason that a telescope cannot be used as a microscope to view amoebas). For him, 550-600 km (orbit height) is already close. Even pictures of the Moon (to which more than 380000 km) are obtained poorly, worse than those of ground-based telescopes. And because of the light sensitivity of the receivers (designed for very long exposures when observing faint distant objects), it will be constantly illuminated by the Earth. And this is not to mention the fact that its orientation system is too slow - it is not designed to keep a "look" on objects passing below at a speed of 7,5 km / sec. The picture will be blurry.

The KH-11 KENNEN optical reconnaissance satellites are another matter (by the way, Hubble is made from one of them). They are designed for all of the above. And here they are just facing a limitation due to atmospheric interference.

for some reason the numbers are not written on the roofs of cars

You can also look at an angle.

as soon as a pair of telescopes can operate in the interferometry mode, the resolution grows hundreds of times. This means that, if you feel like it, you can also see a separate skeptic, and in detail.

Interferometry is, roughly speaking, one receiver made up of several small receivers spaced apart in space. Allows you to increase the resolution only when the obstacle is only a large distance, and you need a larger receiver. When an obstruction to observation is precisely material obstacle (gas molecules in the atmosphere, dust, haze, etc...) - here interferometry is powerless. Not to mention that the telescopes need to visit many points of the virtual "one big telescope" in order to collect data from different angles. In other words, it takes a lot of time. The skeptic will get tired of waiting and leave.

[Arcius Long]

I love whiners and moaners. We don't start badly, we start badly too. You won't please.

[lelik613]

It looks like the last letter was mixed up in the name.

[Bingo]

Space, damn it, is not nuclear energy, it does not produce a product. Well, at least they kept it in the 90s, thanks to orders from Gazprom, by the way. Now the state order has gone - it will be reanimated

[Mikhail3]

Bird with an umbrella
They need not two a year, and not four, but much, much more. And these, and various others, all sorts. 200 frames? Crap! We need continuous streaming!

[sibiryouk]

How easy it is for you to make satellites! Even such a small one - to do six months! I don’t know the production capacities of NPO Mashinostroeniya, but I think on average they won’t make more than 3 pieces per year!

[Scharnhorst]

The radar operates in the S-band with a wavelength of 10 cm and a frequency of 3,1-3,3 MHz.

Three technical "synonyms" about the same thing and then with an error. Frequency 3,1-3,3 GHz. But progress in technical literacy is visible. Thanks to the author for an interesting topic. QUESTIONS TO THE EXPERTS: the price of launching and the price of the satellite itself?

[Vasya Vasiliev_3]

Popa Rogozina responded with her answers, for the fact that Russia has only one such satellite, and the US satellites, of which they have many, launched a rocket at Rogozin's op. Korce Musk covered Rogozin with his trampoline, because when he was in charge of Roskosmos and launched not Russian intelligence satellites, but US satellites

[abc_alex]

But interestingly, the letter "A" in the index means "active", that is, it is a full-fledged radar with a receiver and emitter. At one time, the USSR for such a machine was forced to make a power supply unit based on a nuclear power plant, which once unspeakably delighted the Canadians. I wonder what is currently being used? Is it the technique that jumped forward like that or was it decided to resume the use of YaSU on satellites?

[cpls22]

For maximum performance, both satellites will operate in circumpolar sun-synchronous orbits.

They are constantly in the sun, so the food is stable.
Efficiency is important for military needs, and there is room for growth here - everything depends on the speed of data processing, which is performed on the ground.

[acetophenone]

I wonder how this whole... squiggle... how it turns and orients itself. And it looks so gorgeous.