Some details about our "analogue" Starlink have been announced

Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov made a statement about the Russian satellite system for detailed mapping.

On Channel One, Bakanov announced that this is a satellite-based system under the general name "Zorkiy." According to the head of Roscosmos, the device is designed to photograph the Earth's surface from space to create up-to-date digital maps.

Bakanov:

Unmanned aerial vehicles then move along them.

Bakanov claims that serial production of such satellites will begin in our country this year.

Head of Roscosmos:

By next year, we plan to deploy a satellite constellation of more than 300 such satellites.

As a reminder, there were previously reports of plans to deploy "our answer to Elon Musk" in the form of 886 Rassvet satellites, which will provide broadband access to the Global Network (or will it no longer be Global by then?) in Russia. This is a low-orbit satellite constellation. No date has been announced for its deployment.

It is the Zorki satellites that are positioned as competitors to Starlink.

Some time ago, Roscosmos published detailed satellite images of a number of foreign cities, including Los Angeles and Tokyo, demonstrating the capabilities of Russian space equipment.

The Zorkiy satellite is an ultra-compact spacecraft. It is designed primarily for Earth remote sensing. Its payload includes a camera with a resolution of 6,6 meters per pixel and equipment for transmitting telemetry and images to Earth. However, depending on its mission and objectives, it can also carry other compact equipment.

Comments

[Olgovich]

Faster, faster is necessary! This was necessary yesterday...

[Ture-Dog]

In the Soviet Union they knew how to say, "We need to hurry!" and now it's "Bakanov claims..."

[fruc]

Ture-Dog
It was during the Soviet era that they knew how to say, "We need to do it faster!"

Under the Soviet Union, only cats were born "faster", and the same applies to successors.

[Infinity]

The authors of this article on VO are definitely hasty here. Just so you know, Starlink satellites are communications satellites, not Earth remote sensing or imagery reconnaissance satellites. Furthermore, Starlink satellites won't be able to accommodate proper optics for taking surface photographs: while they are large, they are flat. This is an ideal shape for their antenna array and for fitting dozens of satellites under the Falcon 9's payload fairing (they fold like pancakes when packaged, see photo 1). The only optics on Starlink satellites is an inter-satellite laser communications system, which transmits data at a rate of approximately 200 Gbps.
The only Starlink analog correctly named in the article is the Rassvet system. Zorkie satellites should be compared to satellites with similar purposes. This misleading comparison occurred because Bakanov had previously talked about the production of terminals for Rassvet, but then switched to Zorkie.

Next. The 6,6 meters per pixel mentioned in the article are nothing special. Yes, for cubesats like the Zorkie satellites, it's more or less acceptable, but who needs that in the 21st century? Technology is certainly advancing, but it can't bypass the laws of physics. When it comes to truly high-quality images, it's not a satellite with a camera, but a satellite built around a camera. A large camera. A prime example is the American KH-11 (by the way, Hubble used a spare mirror for the KH-11, so they're very similar). Another example is WorldView Legion (photo 2) from Vantor (Maxar). Yes, they're larger than the Zorkie satellites (but much smaller than the KH-11), but they deliver 0,3 meters per pixel for panchromatic imaging and 1,2 for multispectral imaging. Perhaps we should launch not 300 Zorki satellites, as planned, but 30 large satellites whose images will be competitive in the huge remote sensing market and truly useful?

[SergeyB]

Quote: Infinity

The authors of this article on VO are definitely the ones who jumped the gun. Just so you know, Starlink satellites are communications satellites, not Earth remote sensing and imagery reconnaissance satellites.

Let me tell you my vision.
Most likely, our system is called a Starlink analogue not because of the purpose of the satellites, but because of the coverage. After all, Starlink didn't become famous because of its satellite internet (high-quality satellite internet existed long before Starlink). It was the coverage. It was precisely the seamless coverage (due to the large number of satellites) that made Starlink so famous.
Our system is likely called a Starlink analogue precisely because, thanks to the same large number of satellites, we will achieve continuous coverage of the entire planet's surface. This means we will be able to conduct real-time optical observation of the entire surface simultaneously.

Quote: Infinity

The 6,6 m per pixel indicated in the article is no longer relevant.

Quote: Infinity

A striking example is the American KH-11

Quote: Infinity

A prime example is the American KH-11 (incidentally, Hubble used a spare mirror for the KH-11, so they're very similar). Another example is WorldView Legion (photo 2) from Vantor (Maxar). Yes, they're larger than the Zorki (but much smaller than the KH-11), but they offer 0,3 meters per pixel for panchromatic imaging and 1,2 meters per pixel for multispectral imaging. Perhaps we should launch not 300 Zorki, as planned, but 30 large satellites whose images will be competitive in the vast remote sensing market and truly useful?

Why are you comparing a mapping satellite and a reconnaissance satellite? They have completely different missions!
The goal of a reconnaissance satellite is to provide as much detail as possible. However, the greater the detail, the smaller the sector that can be photographed. As the field of view increases, the detail decreases proportionally.
The system we're creating has a completely different purpose: not to see individual point objects (with high resolution), but to see everything at once (albeit at low resolution).
And the resolution of 6,6 meters per pixel isn't all that low. For example, this resolution allows us to see all railway trains, all sea vessels, and most military and civil aircraft (all over the planet at once).
And if we can do all of this in real time, it will be a giant leap forward in our country’s intelligence capabilities!

[bk0010]

Quote: SergeyB

But the greater the detail, the smaller the area that can be photographed. As the shooting area increases, the detail will decrease proportionally.

It depends on your optics. You can build a device that offers both high resolution and a wide acquisition bandwidth (see Resurs-P, for example), but it will be expensive and bulky. But that's exactly the kind of device the military needs.

Quote: SergeyB

Not to see a separate point object (with good resolution), but to see everything at once (albeit with low resolution).

A CubeSat and see everything? Are you serious? What's your maximum on-time and how many on-times per orbit? Two 30-second on-times, most likely. CubeSats have very limited power and cooling capabilities. If you want to see really much, build a survey satellite in geostationary orbit.

[WIS]

Quote: SergeyB

What for You are comparing a mapping satellite and a reconnaissance satellite. satellite? They have completely different tasks!
The reconnaissance satellite's task is to provide as much detail as possible. But. The more detail, the smaller the sector that can be

Quote: SergeyB

And if we can do all this in real time, it will be gigantic. a breakthrough in intelligence capabilities our country!

I don’t understand what is missing in the arguments you dispute yourself.
PS: The basis of quality is resolution...

[Pilot]

6,6 meters is the actual size of a tank, but in a digital image it's just one pixel. That's a lot of tanks that can be hidden under digital noise. A train is half a pixel wide, and you can't tell a large landing ship from a bulk carrier. On publicly available Yandex Maps, individual cars are visible, while on Google Maps, the glass on these cars is visible. Someone messed up the resolution of future satellites.

[topol717]

Who needs a sensitivity of 0.3 meters per pixel, and in what range can it be achieved? And if satellites operate in pairs or trios, the resolution can be greatly improved through mathematical processing. If the end result, for example, in deep infrared at 2 microns and wider wavelengths, is 1 meter per pixel, that's sufficient for most civilian and military applications. But the plan there isn't even to capture stereo, but quad, i.e., one point from four locations. And then it's up to the mathematicians, fortunately, we have them.

[WIS]

Quote: Infinity

The ones who were definitely in a hurry here were the authors of this article on VO

If I'm not mistaken, the equipment was launched into space in March 2021.
Why silently, year after year, put "stars" on a unit, after all, it is, in fact, not cognac...

[ROSS_51]

Quote: Infinity

Perhaps we should launch not 300 Zorki satellites, as planned, but 30 large satellites whose images will be competitive in the huge remote sensing market and truly useful?

Yes, this is most likely also the result of confusion. The Russian equivalent of Starlink was planned to launch something like 280 satellites. Zorkiy camera satellites (the name itself says it all) are indeed excessive.

[stelltok]

Perhaps we need to launch not 300 Zorki satellites, as planned, but 30 large satellites

These are the kind of satellites that would be useful (like in the video)
The satellite produces video data transmission in real time
https://youtu.be/VWM40f_HW7o?t=121

[Ture-Dog]

Yeah, in WWII, before and after, even a cat wouldn't have had time to have kittens, but in this great country, various brands of airplanes, machine tools, ships, cultural achievements were created, and all of this in an extremely short time.☝️

[Comrade Kim]

To help you, here's a collection of Pravda newspapers. Every 7-14 days, on the last page, a brief report:
"Today, a rocket was launched from the xxx cosmodrome with the Cosmos 3487 satellite on board."

[ZovSailor]

Olgovich
Today, 09: 01
Faster, faster is necessary! This was necessary yesterday...

Only the professional multi-tasker Rogozin was faster, but the trampoline turned out to be more reliable.

[bk0010]

Quote: Olgovich

This was needed yesterday...

This was unnecessary yesterday too: 6,6 meters per pixel. At this resolution, for the image to be useful, the swath would need to be hundreds of kilometers (useful not for the military, but for cartographers or agronomists, if the device is infrared), which is highly questionable when using small satellites.

[opuonmed]

Bureau 1440 was supposed to be launching satellites by now, but something disappeared somewhere. Will it be the same here?
The development of a Russian analogue of Starlink was estimated at almost 445 billion rubles.
Bureau 1440 may need 445 billion rubles by 2030 to create a satellite constellation to provide high-speed internet throughout the country. This is the first, and still preliminary, estimate for the project.
By the end of 2030, the Bureau 1440 constellation is expected to consist of 292 satellites, with a total of 383 satellites to be launched (including 91 replacement satellites for those failing). This will require 24 rocket launches, according to the project. It is expected that the constellation will be created primarily with the company's own funds, which are expected to allocate 329,06 billion rubles to the project. The company is also expected to allocate an additional 116 billion rubles from the budget: 37,5 billion rubles in preferential loans for satellite construction, 17,3 billion rubles in rocket launch subsidies, and 61,2 billion rubles for launching satellites into low-Earth orbit. In 2025 alone, Bureau 1440 is expected to receive over 37 billion rubles from the federal budget.

The project's goal, as stated in the document, is to increase the share of households with access to high-speed broadband internet to 97% by 2030 and to 99% by 2036.


The 2024 budget and the 2025–2026 planning period revealed that Bureau 1440 could receive 9,35 billion rubles this year to purchase materials and components needed to build and launch 66 spacecraft in 2025.

https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/17/09/2024/66e8671f9a79472a671f62eb

[alexoff]

But in fact, they probably allocated several times less.

[ROSS_51]

Quote: opuonmed

This will require 24 missile launches, the project states.

A lot. Musk is cramming 60 satellites into the Falcon 9.

[Same lech]

.

The payload includes a camera with a resolution of 6,6 m per pixel and equipment for transmitting telemetry and images to Earth.

The camera is a bit weak...it's good enough for civilian purposes.
Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

[nakhtigalsif]

Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

Why would a companion need to look at a person's watch? There's no time program? I think it's enough to see the person themselves, with or without a watch, as long as they have a hand...

[RuAbel]

Well, at this resolution you won't be able to see a person. A 12-meter truck will be a mere line. Nothing to brag about yet.

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: nachtigalsif

Why should a satellite look at a person’s watch?

Well, it's not a watch, but seeing what kind of porn a State Duma deputy is watching on his smartphone is useful for collecting incriminating evidence!

[Good Evil]

Well, they don't see the time, of course, but a resolution of 6.6 m/pixel is clearly not enough for reconnaissance!

[old_pferd]

No, they don't. The resolution of the US KH-11 series satellite (with a 2.4-meter mirror diameter, similar to Hubble) taken from low orbits under ideal conditions is estimated to be about 5 cm. Since ideal conditions are rare due to the atmosphere, and the orbits aren't that low, the practical resolution is about 15 cm.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: old_pferd

When shooting from low orbits under ideal conditions, the resolution is estimated to be about 5 cm... in practice, the resolution is about 15 cm

No, it doesn't:

The theoretical resolution of the US KH-11 series satellite with a 2,4 m diameter mirror in the absence of atmospheric distortion and a 50% frequency contrast characteristic is approximately 15 cm.

That is, 15 cm is the theoretical limit under ideal conditions. In practice, it is less.

[old_pferd]

It's you from the Russian wiki. In the English version of the article:
A perfect mirror 2,4 metres (94 in) in diameter observing in the visible spectrum (i.e., at a wavelength of 500 nm) has a diffraction-limited resolution of about 0,05 arc seconds, which from an orbital altitude of 250 kilometres (160 mi) corresponds to a sample distance on the Earth's surface of 6 centimetres (2,4 in). The working resolution would be worse due to the effects of atmospheric turbulence.[39] Astronomer Clifford Stoll estimates that such a telescope could provide resolution down to "a couple of inches. Not good enough to recognize a face."[40]

[nik-mazur]

Quote: old_pferd

An ideal mirror with a diameter of 2,4 meters... has a resolution... The working resolution should be worse

As far as I understand, a perfect mirror is purely theoretical. Like a black body or a spherical horse in a vacuum. A real physical mirror in a real atmosphere has a resolution of no more than 15 cm under ideal conditions and, as far as I remember, at the shortest possible distance. I've been interested in this topic for a long time and have forgotten the details.

[WIS]

Quote: old_pferd

The Perfect Mirror A 2,4-metre (94 in) diameter optical sample observing in the visible spectrum (i.e., at a wavelength of 500 nm) has a diffraction-limited resolution of about 0,05 arc seconds, which from an orbital altitude of 250 km (160 mi) corresponds to a sample distance on the Earth's surface of 6 cm (2,4 in).

To the surprise of many, the problem of "resolution limitation" (necessary for high-quality display of an object in a picture) is simply not related to the mirror, but to the property of light - to refract when....

Quote: old_pferd

Work permit must be worse due to exposure atmospheric turbulence .

- atmosphere.
Diffraction... one of many interferences

[Voenoboz]

I don’t believe it about the watch, such optics can’t exist, physically it can’t.

[Artunis]

Believe it or not, this is a topic for theologians. But back in the late 80s, I was working in a box directly with images of the Earth's surface from our satellites (not exactly civilian ones), and I was able to personally read the company's name on a tennis ball! That was the late 80s, so you can still believe it!

[Voenoboz]

Okay, I'm convinced I was right.

[bk0010]

Quote: Artunis

And back in the late 80s, I was working in a box directly with images of the Earth's surface from our satellites (not exactly civilian ones), and I was able to personally read the company's name on a tennis ball! This was the late 80s, so you can still believe it!

I still don't believe it. What nonsense.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: Artunis

In the late 80s, I worked in a box directly with images of the Earth's surface from our satellites... I was able to read the company name on a tennis ball.

The diameter of a tennis ball is approximately 65 mm. The height of a letter is 10-12 mm. The altitude of low Earth orbit is from 160 km.
Would you like to calculate the resolving power of the optical system with these input data?

[stankow]

Are you sure it was a satellite photo? Or an aerial photograph?

[Artunis]

I'm not just sure, I know and have seen it myself. One drawback: back then, there was no digital data transmission, so the photos (film) were physically delivered to Earth from satellites, as you can imagine, quite slowly. The Americans had the same technology back then. Also, when shooting with a long-focus lens, it was quite difficult to get a clear image, so this type of photography wasn't widely used back then. There were also a bunch of other purely technical factors—I won't go into detail. Now, with digital photography, all these shortcomings have long been eliminated. And the optics were already in good shape back then.

[ism_ek]

Quote: The same LYOKHA

Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

In the visible spectrum, the resolution is 0.5 meters. The problem lies in the properties of the atmosphere.

[Kotofeich]

Quote: ism_ek

In the visible spectrum, the resolution is 0.5 meters. The problem lies in the properties of the atmosphere.

And then computer processing, AI, etc. come into play.

[ism_ek]

Quote: Kotofeich

And then computer processing, AI, etc. come into play.

The AI ​​will give you an AI hallucination that will look beautiful, but may have nothing to do with reality.

[Kotofeich]

Quote: ism_ek

AI will give you an AI hallucination

It depends on the initial data and the task at hand. Don't underestimate AI.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: Kotofeich

then computer processing, AI, etc. are connected.

Exactly. I've seen it myself in a movie where a security camera image was enlarged and manipulated so that the license plate of a villain's car was visible in the reflection of a random passerby's glasses.

[WIS]

Quote: ism_ek

In the visible spectrum, the resolution is 0.5 meters

Here, apparently, the “brutality” of the Ministry of Defense is not taken into account, using methods in which an object is freely cut into small components and as a result, from half a meter at best, a millimeter remains.

[Piramidon]

Quote: The same LYOKHA

Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

The sturgeon should be cut back a bit

[nik-mazur]

Quote: The same LYOKHA

Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

Moreover, hidden in a pocket.

[man]

Quote from: nik-mazur

Quote: The same LYOKHA

Now, surveillance systems from space can see the time on a person's wristwatch.

Moreover, hidden in a pocket.

It's more popular for us to hide figs in our pockets.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: mann

It's more popular for us to hide figs in our pockets.

It's popular with everyone, but for some reason, companions aren't interested in figs—mostly, the legends involve license plates, newspapers, matchboxes, and stars on shoulder straps. Besides watches, of course.

[man]

Quote from: nik-mazur

Quote: mann

It's more popular for us to hide figs in our pockets.

It's popular with everyone, but for some reason, companions aren't interested in figs—mostly, the legends involve license plates, newspapers, matchboxes, and stars on shoulder straps. Besides watches, of course.

These satellites have strange taste.

[olboop]

It is the Zorki satellites that are positioned as competitors to Starlink.

In my opinion, these are different things: broadband internet satellites (like Starlink) and photography/mapping satellites. The satellites have different technical components, a different number of satellites required, possibly different orbits, etc.

[Egoza]

Quote: olbop

Different technical components of the satellites, different required number of satellites, possibly different orbits, etc.

Soon, it'll be as crowded with satellites as the subway. And what are the aliens looking at?

[kromer]

Quote: Egoza

Soon, it'll be as crowded with satellites as the subway. And what are the aliens looking at?

That's true. There's a lot of debris in space. In 50 years, it'll be a real problem.

[Ray]

There are no aliens) all the photographs and video evidence taken with a calculator, so popular in the 80s, suddenly stopped appearing and being published, when every 5th person on the planet has a smartphone in their pocket, and every 10th person has a smartphone with a very high-quality camera with a resolution and optics that were not available on video equipment of the 80s.

[Joker62]

Quote: Egoza

Quote: olbop

Different technical components of the satellites, different required number of satellites, possibly different orbits, etc.

Soon, it'll be as crowded with satellites as the subway. And what are the aliens looking at?

And everyone's pushing into low-orbit space. Essentially, we're creating space junk ourselves. And few will dare to launch their satellites into high-orbit orbit. It all boils down to underdeveloped technology and funding.

[Izotovp]

It's still convenient to solve some very special problems while still in the trash in orbit).

[by land]

The advantage of low Earth orbit is that space debris can't remain in orbit for long, as atmospheric drag causes it to fall back to Earth after a few weeks or months. Furthermore, satellites like Starlink are equipped with ion thrusters, allowing them to frequently maneuver to avoid known hazard zones.

[Gardamir]

They say Musk has occupied all of near-Earth space.

[Hole puncher]

Quote: Gardamir

They say Musk has occupied all of near-Earth space.

You have a modest understanding of our planet.

[Gardamir]

It's not my thing. I wish Topware let me upload videos from my computer.

[Hole puncher]

Quote: Gardamir

If only Topware could upload videos from a computer.

All these videos are complete lies. Against the background of the Earth, at the scale they show, any satellite would be simply invisible.
For comparison, there are currently between 10 and 25 aircraft flying at altitudes of 5 to 10 km above the ground.
There are about 25 satellites at altitudes of 300 to 600 km. Do you think airplanes are filling the skies above you?
Now you can remember the mathematics and compare the volume in which airplanes fly and the volume in which satellites fly.
What is the difference between them and can we also calculate how many satellites are needed to equalize the density of aircraft per 1 km3.

[Hole puncher]

Quote: Egoza

Soon it will be as crowded with satellites as the subway.

This will require hundreds of millions of them.

[Kotofeich]

Quote: Egoza

And where are the aliens looking?

Trump will tell us in the summer.

[Piramidon]

Quote: Egoza

Soon it will be as crowded with satellites as in the subway.

Do you only count the ones that are launched? Don't you count how many of them (especially the low-altitude ones) cease to exist and burn up in the atmosphere?

[Vrotkompot]

What's the problem with performing multiple functions at once? After all, in our conditions, delivering satellites is quite expensive (thanks to Rogozin for laughing at the "trampolines"). Apparently, this is the reason for the delay in the Starlink-like program, as they want to shove some good cameras in there too.

[Hole puncher]

Quote from Vrotkompot

What's the problem with performing several functions at once?

The platform's power and size. The Cubsat12U is only 100 watts. It's enough for a simple camera, but nothing more. And the dimensions are 322 x 215 x 215 mm. Compare the Starlink V2, which weighs 800 kg, to the Cubsat12U, which weighs 16 kg.

[Intelligence]

The problem is that articles like these are a paragon of technical illiteracy and are written solely for the sake of a flashy headline. And of course! A competitor to Starlink!
The problem is that you can't compare elderberry and an uncle in Kyiv.
The Zorkiy series satellites will operate using remote sensing and automated information systems (AIS). Starlink is designed to provide broadband satellite internet.

"What's the problem with performing several functions at once?"

In terms of the satellite's size. In terms of its internals. In terms of functionality. Zorky is essentially a compact CubeSat nanosatellite (6U or 12U). Starlink satellites are significantly larger and equipped with phased array antennas for high-speed data transmission. Where would you fit that in a nanosatellite?
And everything's fine, judging by the article. Hang in there, Elon Musk?

[Sky strike fighter]

Quote: olbop

It is the Zorki satellites that are positioned as competitors to Starlink.

In my opinion, these are different things: broadband internet satellites (like Starlink) and photography/mapping satellites. The satellites have different technical components, a different number of satellites required, possibly different orbits, etc.

Yes, they're different. A different project is responsible for domestic broadband satellite internet. Bakanov himself spoke about this.

The project to create a low-orbit satellite constellation for broadband satellite communications, "Rassvet," by the Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440, will be Russia's answer to Starlink, said Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, according to TASS.

“We will also have low-orbit broadband communications,” Bakanov said.

Previously, it was reported that the deployment of the Russian Rassvet satellite constellation could be delayed. This will be due to the priority use of domestic radio electronics, as indicated in the protocol of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies dated December 24.

https://www.gazeta.ru/tech/news/2025/05/20/25833002.shtml

[_simply]

Of course, this is very exciting news. Let's see how it performs and functions. R&D must be maintained in good condition, using every scrap from the master's table.

[Fisher]

God willing, it would be interesting to read how Sphere is developing. What's already been done, what remains.

[Intelligence]

Quote from Fisher

God willing, it would be interesting to read how Sphere is developing. What's already been done, what remains.

At present, not a single satellite has been launched under the Sphere project.
By the middle of the year, perhaps, there will be 6 "Skifs" in orbit. And maybe, 5 pre-production "Marathons".
As for the prospects, ~650 satellites for communication and remote sensing, perhaps, will appear by 2030,
Add to this the increasing shortage of component base and our traditional shifts to the right - and you get the general idea.

[KrolikZanuda]

They know how to make promises. How about the Baikonur launch pad?

[man]

Quote: KrolikZanuda

They know how to make promises. How about the Baikonur launch pad?

Of course, it’s true, but let’s at least be happy for our engineers for now, because they’re not sitting around doing nothing like they did in the 90s. I think, at the very least, the development is already ready.

[Intelligence]

Would you like to know the number of similar developments in the Republic of Kazakhstan over the past decade? And the actual impact they have had?

[man]

Quote: Intelligence

Would you like to know the number of similar developments in the Republic of Kazakhstan over the past decade? And the actual impact they have had?

If you specialist, I'm all ears

[Intelligence]

I have some connection. What specifically are you interested in? What statements from the RK and AN?
Should I voice the proposed number of concepts they've developed? On what issue? On RN? On QC? OS-DOS?
On superheavy rockets? Engines? Hydrogen? Methane? Reusability? The lunar program? The element base?
Specifically about the Angara? About the S-5? According to the FKP figures?

If I start listing the RK's statements on the above-mentioned points now, I doubt I'll finish by the evening. And there are still plenty of drawings, models, and other announcements made by the RK, which place us ahead of the curve.
The neural network will provide the lion's share of answers. But if you're interested in something specific, let's chat. Messages are preferable. I doubt everyone is interested in purely technical details.

[man]

But if you're interested in something specific, let's chat. Message me privately, preferably. I doubt everyone's interested in purely technical details.
Hmm... I read your other comments and already realized that Bakanov is just a regular... (chatterbox)... It's a pity... I was in a good mood... The more incompetent the management, the more it bears...
Good luck to you!

[Intelligence]

Same to you!
But, you know, a little leniency should be shown to the hapless leaders of the Republic of Crimea. Rogozin, Borisov, and Bakanov are all constrained by the strict financial framework of the Federal Treasury. The previous Federal Treasury was already mercilessly emasculated before its very end, and while the funds allocated for the new one appear to be quite good, who's to say there won't be cuts?
And what about the directions of the FKP? They raise doubts.
The long-suffering Federation (Orel) is back in fashion. We'll be fine-tuning it. What will we fly it on? The A5P has given up the ghost. Now we're focusing on the A5M. Everything's great, but when will it be ready for manned launches? Even military launch vehicles require improvements today?
The creation of the MNLS and robotic vehicles is back. At least there were no incidents with Luna-26...
ROS again. And they still can't quite decide on the orbit. What should they make it out of? Old stuff? New stuff? Well, they still have to make it. There are problems with the ROS launch vehicle...
TEM again and so on.
And the leaders of the Republic of Kazakhstan, being sensible people, see both the problems and the prospects for the Republic of Kazakhstan. These are quite vague. But they are obliged to say something optimistic. So sometimes they come up with things that Peskov can use as a tool for his own arsenal.

[man]

And the leaders of the Republic of Kazakhstan, being sensible people, see both the problems and the prospects for the Republic of Kazakhstan. These are quite vague. But they are obliged to say something optimistic. So sometimes they come up with things that Peskov can use as a tool for his own arsenal.
Did I understand correctly that they are simply forced to lie optimistically?

[Reklastik]

Let's talk about the hardware components. What about their service life, reliability, altitudes, conditions, and resistance to failures from the ionizing radiation source and the accumulated dose? What's the integration level, performance? Digital, analog—what's the deal with all of that?

[Nicola]

I remember many years ago, when Starlink was just starting to be designed, Musk suggested our country participate in this project. We refused on principle, saying we'd do it ourselves. How many years late were we, and how much did it cost us? Oh, these super-efficient managers. And Roscosmos would have been better off keeping quiet until they saw results. Every year, a sea of ​​projects, and then silence.

[kromer]

Quote: Nicola

I remember, many years ago, when Starlink was just starting to be designed, Musk suggested our country participate in this project. We refused on principle.

And they did the right thing. The Turks also participated in the development of the F-35. And they flew...

[Dart2027]

Quote: Nicola

Oh, these super-effective managers in management.

After all, thanks to them, we did not finance the creation of a satellite constellation aimed at us.

[Irokez]

Well, yes, and then they would have screwed us like one Ukrainian who was also in the space industry in the USA, but then "Goodbye."

[Voenoboz]

Don't mix heaven with eggs. Any deal with the enemy is guaranteed to fail.

[Coconut Tima]

How are the satellite system for detailed mapping and the Internet related?

[Nikolaevich I]

Well, the Internet is not the Internet, but it is useful for the functioning of the TERCOM correlation system, without the use of GPS!

[kudma]

Again, only promises, nothing new.

[Word]

Baranov is young and energetic, and his statements are consistent with the announced satellite launch date of 26. Let's hope for the best; a stable signal requires a lot of satellites.

[Amateur]

What do mapping satellites have to do with Starlink telecommunications satellites? None. Either Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov doesn't know the difference (which is entirely possible given the current personnel policy), or the media has gotten something mixed up. Basically, "a trampoline will help them all."

[olboop]

It's more likely that the author of the article doesn't know.

[Igor K_2]

Satellites... Do you have components for these satellites? Our electronics industry is still stuck in the "we'll buy everything from the West" mode. Import substitution for electronic components is moving incredibly slowly here.

[UA3QHP]

Is there a kit for these satellites?

The orbits are low, the satellite's lifespan is short, so radiation-resistant components are not required. This is not a geostationary orbit.

[Igor K_2]

Of course, you can minus TT, but he'll argue that I wrote it wrong. I understand that the ultra-patriots don't like this. The availability of a radar rack is also a question. Everything for real-time video processing is imported; we don't yet have the necessary lithography. Remember the delay in launching GLONASS satellites after the sanctions were imposed? But they don't have high-speed data stream processing, and even with such hardware, there were serious problems. We'll see how the program with these satellites is implemented; I'd like it to be better than with import substitution.

[UA3QHP]

For real-time video processing, everything is imported; we don't have the necessary lithography yet.

In principle, the satellite doesn't need much video processing. Its job is to relay the entire stream to the ground, so they can figure it out.

[Igor K_2]

Of course it's not necessary, of course it is. It has a very high-resolution matrix, and the data flow will be significant; it simply won't be transmitted without processing; the channel bandwidth isn't sufficient. I'm telling you this as a techie.

[al3x]

According to the media, the Rassvet launch is still only planned. And the program is designed for 900 units by 2035, or 90 per year. Something's got Bakanov going on. Another top manager, Obeschalkin.

[Saturn VII]

And the program is designed for 900 units until 2035, i.e. 90 per year.

Uh, no. You don't understand the full depth of the depths. Not 90 units a year. The first 5-6 years are nothing but promises. Then, for 3-4 years, a full-scale model, and maybe even some kind of pre-production prototype. But in the last year, when they'll deliver the remaining 899 units. Unless, of course, everyone has completely forgotten about those promises by then.

[Volunteer Marek]

Something tells me that the entire component base of this PLANNED technology is not Russian-made. So, for now, we're not particularly thrilled. Until the entire range of microelectronics is manufactured in Russia, all this puffery will remain just that—puffery.

[snow mountain]

Quote: Volunteer Marek

Something tells me that the entire element base of this PLANNED technology is not of Russian production.

Knowing the "successes" of our semiconductor industry, this is obvious

[Carib]

The successes in the development of Russian lithography have been enormous. Just building a process that includes all the necessary machines, specialized high-frequency chemistry, and the entire range of microcircuits to replicate what's already been achieved elsewhere is a task that will take decades.

[Hole puncher]

Quote: Volunteer Marek

all the components of this PLANNED technology are not of Russian production

Since this is a Cubsat 12U platform, yes. It's an accessible and affordable platform.

[Maks1995]

The Soviet classic immediately comes to mind: "Well, he can't lie every minute, can he?" Of course he can.

Starlink is designed for communications, not for taking photos of the ground, like Zorky. And Rassvet is for communications, and it's not known when it will be available.

[Gardamir]

The downside of this news is that, as usual, it's a message from the future, but we can celebrate now. Whether it will be launched or not is unknown.
May Olgovich forgive me for reminding him of the Soviet Union he hated. But in the USSR, they rejoiced in the facts. We launched (implemented, decided, studied). Now, more than half of our achievements are based on promises, not on action.

[lisikat2]

Friends, I asked my husband, "The Prostitute," his opinion: "We can churn out 1,500 watts of satellites," Shvabe "will be able to supply them with cameras, but the AKKB is a bottleneck for such satellites."

[al3x]

Why do communication satellites like Starlink have cameras?

[snow mountain]

Quote: Olgovich

This was needed yesterday...

Or even better, the day before yesterday!

[Moneron]

They promise again?...next year? ...laughter...curtain...
Brothers!!! You can't be so gullible... Didn't you learn anything from the story with the new Russian planes?... And the stations on the moon... and the 100 high-tech places... My God, but you can't be so gullible in our country. Real, tangible work is done first, and then the results are announced publicly.

[Hole puncher]

Quote from moneron

Are they promising again?

No, these should do it. It's a cheap CubeSat, of which you can output 50 at a time. The problem is, they're of little use.

[jamonchik]

How are the satellite system for detailed mapping and the Internet related?

[Hole puncher]

Quote from Jamonchik

How are the satellite system for detailed mapping and the Internet related?

They are connected by the term satellite, for some this is enough

[opuonmed]

What about Bureau 1440? Has it shut down? They should be launching satellites by now! Starlink provides internet, not maps? What does Starlink and its competitor have to do with this?

[nedgen]

They finally got around to it after 25 years and four years of the SVO. The Americans had a digital map of the ENTIRE land back in 2000-2001!!! They finally realized that such a map is needed, and not just for drones, but also for the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the like.
As for a Russian Starlink equivalent, there's nothing to say. Who knows when it'll appear. After all, they say more than 800 satellites are needed. And the 6.6m resolution of the mapping satellites is something else! Even some roads won't be visible, not to mention essential things like wells and other small objects.

[Hole puncher]

The Zorkiy satellite is an ultra-compact spacecraft. It is designed primarily for Earth remote sensing. Its payload includes a camera with a resolution of 6,6 meters per pixel and equipment for transmitting telemetry and images to Earth.

Let me explain. Zorkiy satellites are designed in the Cubsat 12U format and are launched into a 500-kilometer orbit. They're suitable for weather monitoring and forest fire detection. They're useless for military purposes.

[Hitriy Zhuk]

Well, it’s strange to compare a distribution and communication satellite.
However, it is possible that at least some of the starlinks are used for branching or have both functions.

[maiman61]

Until the rumour breaks out, a man won't cross himself! Thank God and the SVO! Such shitty words as "partners" and "brothers" are no longer spoken to our eternal ENEMIES!

[swan49]

As always, one left something unsaid, the other didn't understand. We're talking about the Zorkiy-2M satellite. The satellite's primary payload is a camera capable of imaging in four spectral bands with a resolution of 2,75 meters per pixel. But that's data from 2023. The actual specifications of the satellites launched in late December 2025 have not been disclosed.

[griboedov09]

Strange article, the author claims that:

It is the Zorki satellites that are positioned as competitors to Starlink.

But the article itself says that:

According to the head of Roscosmos, the device is designed to photograph the Earth's surface from space to create up-to-date digital maps.

As a reminder, there was previously information about plans to deploy “our answer to Elon Musk” in the form of 886 Rassvet satellites.

I'm simply amazed by Roscosmos's optimism. They have so much to launch into space, thousands of devices. Yet, they only launch 20-30 times a year.

[Sergey3]

I don't understand the author of this article at all!! What does Starlink, designed for relaying satellite internet, have to do with a system for visual observation of the planet's surface?! It's like comparing green and salty.

[komandir8]

A mere 886 satellites, "a response to Musk"...there are 8608 Starlink satellites in orbit, and Elon plans to launch another 8000 satellites into space. And the Chinese are planning to launch 200,000 satellites into orbit in a short time.

[kig]

Nonsense. Zorkie are not Starlink, so they can't possibly be an "analogue." Despite the author's best wishes.

[stankow]

Where are the mapping satellites, where is Starlink? The author has mixed everything up terribly.

[acetophenone]

What have I been smoking... How are mapping satellites going to replace repeaters?
If Putin gets reports like this, I'm not surprised by the crap going on in the country. It seems like Mukhohuk isn't quite ripe yet, but overripe.

[Alexey Molotov]

Again, "Our answer" to something, compared two satellite systems, different purposes, yeah...

[the same doctor]

20 cm per pixel—that's the challenge. And it's very easy to solve, even with smartphone cameras.