Anniversary of SPHERE System Inaugural Satellite’s Launch

Demonstrator satellite SKIF-D undergoes final checks before shipment to launch site

Demonstrator satellite SKIF-D made in JSC RESHETNEV completes two years in orbit.

The first satellite of the SPHERE federal programme was launched on October 22, 2022 from Vostochny launch site. This launch marked the start of Russia’s exploration in a new type of orbit – 8 070 km high with polar inclination. This is where the operational constellation of SKIF satellites is going to be deployed.

Over two years, SKIF-D made 3 653 orbits around the Earth, and just as many satellite control sessions were held by RESHETNEV engineers. A total of 4,5 Gb of telemetry data were received.

Over 140 communication sessions via the satellite were organised, including video conferences between Zheleznogorsk and Moscow. The maximum data rate reached as much as 10 Mbit/s.

New items of Russian-made equipment were first flight-qualified onboard the demonstrator satellite: Ka-band travelling wave tube amplifier and Ka-band receiver. Also, new MEO satellite-to-ground communication protocols and interaction algorithms were tried out. Besides, SKIF-D provided experimental data on actual space radiation environments in the orbit of 8 070 km altitude.

All information obtained and all study results will be taken into account by RESHETNEV engineers working at full-scale operational satellites of SKIF constellation. Its purpose is to provide high speed Internet access on the territories of Russia and neighbouring regions.

SKIF-D designers team
RESHETNEV specialists hold a communication session via SKIF-D
At the Concurrent Design Facility, TV channel “Russia” reporter makes a call via SKIF-D
Oct 22, 2024