"The Condor is set to take off: preparations for the next launch are ongoing at the Vostochny Cosmodrome."

Specialists at the Vostochny Space Center in the Amur region are continuing preparations for the launch of the Earth remote sensing satellite "Condor-FKA". It will be lifted into orbit around our planet by the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle at the end of November, as reported by "Komsomolskaya Pravda – Blagoveshchensk" citing the state corporation "Roscosmos".

Currently, the spacecraft's engines have been fueled with propellant and oxidizer. Soon, joint checks of the "Condor-FKA" with the "Fregat" upper stage will begin, which will be responsible for delivering the satellite to its target orbit after separation from the launch vehicle.

At the same time, work continues at the assembly and testing complex for the launch vehicle. Specialists at the space center have already assembled the first and second stages of the "Soyuz" and are now preparing to assemble the "package" of stages.

All systems and units at the Vostochny launch complex are getting ready to receive the rocket.

We remind you that the launch of the "Soyuz-2.1a" launch vehicle with the "Condor-FKA" No. 2 is scheduled from the Vostochny cosmodrome for November 30, 2024.

The launch complex is preparing to receive the launch vehicle. Photo: Vostochny Space Center

"Condor-FKA" No. 2 is part of a group of spacecraft for Earth remote sensing. It allows for high-quality images of the Earth's surface, regardless of weather conditions. The images are used for mapping, monitoring natural resources, studying ice conditions, conducting environmental research, and much more.

The mass of each "Condor-FKA" is about one ton, and they orbit the Earth in sun-synchronous orbits at an average altitude of approximately 518 kilometers.

The first satellite of this group was successfully launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome on May 27, 2023, and has been capturing high-resolution images of the Earth for over a year.

In 2026 and 2029, plans are in place to launch "Condor-FKA" No. 3 and No. 4 into orbit, and in 2030, an upgraded "Condor-FKA-M" will be launched, which, due to changes in the radar geometry, will be able to capture images of the Earth's surface with a resolution of up to 0.5 meters. Additionally, the platform and radar power increase will improve the quality of images transmitted to Earth.

Just recently, on November 5, the "Soyuz-2.1b" launch vehicle successfully lifted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome, which, along with the "Fregat" upper stage, placed the "Ionosfera-M" No. 1 and No. 2 satellites into orbit, as well as 51 small satellites as auxiliary payload.

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