Resurs-P (Resurs-Prospective)

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Overview

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Summary

Mission Capabilities

All Resurs-P satellites host the same primary payload of Geoton-L1 (Panchromatic and Multispectral Radiometer - L1), ShMSA (Medium Resolution Wide Capture Multispectral Optical Sensor), and GSA (Hyperspectral Imaging Equipment).

Geoton-L1 is an optoelectronic pushbroom imaging instrument which obtains high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imagery. ShMSA also obtains panchromatic and multispectral imagery but at a lower resolution and over a wider swath. These multispectral imagers are complemented by GSA, a hyperspectral imager which obtains imagery across 216 spectral bands.

Imagery from the Resurs-P payloads is applicable for government, commercial, and research applications including cartography, environmental and agricultural monitoring, hydrology, oil and mineral prospecting, and military purposes.

Performance Specifications

Geoton-L1 obtains imagery across a swath width of 38 km at nadir, with a spatial resolution of 3 - 4 m in multispectral mode and 1 m in panchromatic. ShMSA-SR images over a wider 441.6 km swath, with a spatial resolution of 59 m for panchromatic imagery and 118 m for multispectral imagery. The hyperspectral imagery obtained by GSA has a spatial resolution of 25 m and covers a swath (at nadir) of 30 km.

The Resurs-P satellites follow a sun-synchronous, near-circular orbit with an altitude of approximately 475 km and an inclination of 97.3°. The satellites achieve a repeat cycle of 3 days with an orbital period of 94 minutes.

Space and Hardware Components

The Resurs-P spacecraft are based on the Soviet electro-optical reconnaissance Yantar-4KS1 bus. These spacecraft are three-axis stabilised and approximately 7.9 m in length and 2.7 m in diameter with a launch mass of 6570 kg.

Satellite navigation of Resurs-P is accomplished with star and sun sensors to provide attitude data, and a GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System)/Global Positioning System(GPS) system for orbital position determination. The spacecraft bus includes modular service, instrument, and payload compartments.

Overview

Resurs-Prospective (Resurs-P) is a series of Russian Earth observation satellites designed and developed by TsSKB Progress (Progress State Research and Production Space Center) in Samara, Russia. The satellites are funded by Roscosmos under the Russian Federal Space Program and are operated by NTs OMZ (Research Center for Operational Earth Monitoring) in Moscow, Russia. Commercial data distribution is handled by Sovzond JSC, also based in Moscow. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

The first satellite of the Resurs-P series, Resurs-P1, was launched in 2013 to replace Resurs-DK, Russia’s first civil EO imaging satellite, which operated between 2006 and 2016. The Resurs-P constellation has since expanded with the launches of Resurs-P2 in 2014, Resurs-P3 in 2016, and Resurs-P4 and Resurs-P5 in 2024.

Spacecraft

The Resurs-P spacecraft series were derived from the Yantar-4KS1 military reconnaissance bus, and have design lives of five years. The Resurs-P satellites use GLONASS/GPS receivers for navigation and attitude determination, and are supported by four star trackers and an angular velocity sensor to monitor orientation and motion during imaging. A specialised geolocation algorithm improves the accuracy of image positioning to approximately 10 metres without requiring local reference points. 7) 8) 9)

The Resurs-P spacecrafts are approximately 7.9 m long and 2.7 m in diameter, with a launch mass of approximately 6 tonnes. The dimensions and mass of each satellite in the series are provided in the tables below.

Launches

Each Resurs-P satellite was launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

When a Resurs-P satellite is launched, it ascends northward into a high-inclination, near-polar orbit, extending from the North to the South Pole to provide full coverage of the Earth’s surface. Each spacecraft reached orbit approximately ten minutes after launch.

Orbit

All Resurs-P satellites operate in Sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO), completing an orbit approximately every 95 minutes, with a revisit time of three days. The orbital parameters for each satellite are presented in Table 5. 19)

Mission Status

• February 11, 2025: Resurs-P2 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled descent at approximately 22:33 UTC over the Antarctic. As it passed through the atmosphere, its near-polar orbit directed debris northward, with fragments of the spacecraft predicted to have travelled as far as Northern Africa. 2)
• January 3, 2025: The first images of Resurs-P5, captured by Geoton-L1 are released by Roscosmos. 20)

• July 6, 2024: Further analysis increased the estimated number of debris fragments from the Resurs-P1 breakup to at least 250, with some reaching altitudes of up to 500 km. The cause of the breakup remains uncertain, but initial assessments suggest a low-intensity explosion, either from an internal failure or a collision. 21)
• June 26, 2024: The decommissioned Resurs-P1 satellite fragmented in low Earth orbit at approximately 16:00 UTC, generating over 100 pieces of trackable debris. Monitoring efforts are ongoing to assess potential risks to space operations. 22)
• December 25, 2024: Resurs-P5 successfully launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from Site 31, Pad 6, Baikonur Cosmodrome. 7)
• April 4, 2024: The first images of Resurs-P4 were published by Roscosmos.

• March 31, 2024: Resurs-P4 successfully launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from Site 31, Pad 6, Baikonur Cosmodrome. 7)
• October 2023: The Resurs-P3 mission came to an end as the satellite performed a controlled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. 3)
• November 2022: Resurs-P3 executed an orbital manoeuvre, lowering its altitude. The adjustment appeared to position the spacecraft as a rendezvous target for Kosmos-2562. 3)
• April 22, 2022: RKTs Progress officially stated that Resurs-P3 returned to full functionality after 1.5 years of troubleshooting. 3)
• December 2021: Resurs-P1 was decommissioned after eight and a half years of operation due to equipment failure. 23)
• December 20, 2016: Roscosmos and SCANEX signed an agreement to distribute data from the Resurs-P satellites. 24)
• 2018: Resurs-P2 was officially confirmed by Roscosmos to no longer be operational, although reports suggest that it had stopped transmitting data as early as 2017. 2)
• March 23, 2016: Resurs-P3 transmitted its first test images using the Geoton telescope and wide-angle camera. 3)

• March 20, 2016: Resurs-P3 conducted its final orbital adjustment, achieving its intended altitude. 3)
• March 17, 2016: Resurs-P3 completed its first orbit-raising manoeuvre with a 70-second engine burn. Despite an unresolved solar panel issue, all onboard systems function as expected, with stable communications and sufficient power generation. 3)
• March 16, 2016: Resurs-P3 successfully launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from Site 31, Pad 6, Baikonur Cosmodrome. Resurs-P3 successfully entered orbit and established communication with ground control. Telemetry confirmed the deployment of its power-generating solar panels, but one panel failed to fully extend. Fortunately, the spacecraft has backup systems that could be used to maintain proper orientation. 3) 7)
• December 26, 2014: Resurs-P2 was successfully launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from Site 31, Pad 6, Baikonur Cosmodrome. 7)

• October 1, 2013: Roscosmos announced that the Resurs-P1 spacecraft and infrastructure were fully operational. 1)
• June 23, 2013: Resurs-P1 was successfully launched aboard a Soyuz-2-1b rocket from Site 1, Pad 5, Baikonur Cosmodrome. 7)

Sensor Complement

All Resurs-P models are equipped with three types of remote-sensing instruments designed for high-resolution, wide-angle, and multispectral imaging of Earth’s surface. This enables the satellites to capture detailed views of specific targets as well as extensive surface areas spanning up to 2000 km in length.

Geoton-L1 Imager

The Geoton-L1 camera, developed at OAO Krasnogorsky Zavod, serves as the primary imaging instrument on the Resurs-P satellites. Geoton-L1 is paired with the Sangur-1U image storing and conversion system, developed at NPO Opteks, a branch of TsSKB Progress in Samara. Sangur-1U converts imagery into digital signals before processing, compressing, and transmitting the data via the satellite’s radio system to ground stations. 7)

The Geoton-L1 is an optoelectronic pushbroom imaging instrument designed to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface and vegetation for both commercial and research applications. It has a mass of 310 kg and operates in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral range, providing panchromatic and multispectral imagery across eight bands. 11) 25)

GSA hyperspectral imager

The GSA hyperspectral camera was developed by OAO Krasnogorsky Zavod and NPP Optecs, and is designed to capture hyperspectral imagery for the study of vegetation processes. 11)

ShMSA multispectral spectrometer

The ShMSA multispectral camera was developed by OAO Krasnogorsky Zavod and NPP Optecs, and is designed to capture multispectral imagery of Earth’s land and vegetation. The system includes two cameras, ShMSA-VR and ShMSA-SR, one designed for high-resolution imaging and the other for medium-resolution observations. The cameras can operate independently as well as simultaneously. On the Resurs-P5 satellite, the configuration differs, as it carries two high resolution ShMSA-VR cameras instead of the usual combination of high and medium resolution sensors. 11) 14) 25)

Surveying modes:

Route surveying

Route surveying can be conducted with a constant roll and pitch at a given azimuth. The spacecraft’s roll and pitch can deviate from nadir by up to ± 45°, while yaw adjustment is possible up to ± 60°. Duration routes range from 2 to 300 seconds. 26)

Aerial surveying

Stereo surveying

Stereo imaging is performed at a single turn with pitch deviation. The length of the routes can extend up to 115 km. 26)

Resurs-P2 additional instruments

In addition to the main payload carried by all Resurs-P satellites, Resurs-P2 was also equipped with: 2) 11)

• Nucleon: Nucleon is a high-energy particle detector originally developed for the Koronas-Nuclon satellite. It is designed to study space weather by analysing particle fluxes in cosmic rays.
• Automated Identification System (AIS): AIS is developed by RKS corporation and is designed to record ship traffic.

Ground Segment

The Resurs-P ground segment consists of a ground control complex and a data reception, processing, and distribution system. The ground control complex enables simultaneous management of all operational Resurs-P satellites with minimal operator involvement, automating flight control tasks throughout their missions. All acquired data is processed and distributed by the Research Center for Earth Operative Monitoring (NTs OMZ) in Moscow. The satellites use an X-band communication system, with Resurs-P1, P2, and P3 transmitting at 150 and 300 megabits per second, while Resurs-P4 and P5 support an additional 600 megabits per second transmission rate. 3) 4) 27)

References  

1) Anatoly Zak, “Resurs-P1 mission,” russianspaceweb, 3 July 2024, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs-p1.html 

2) Anatoly Zak, “Resurs-P2 remote-sensing satellite,” russianspaceweb, 12 February 2025, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs_p2.html 

3) Anatoly Zak, “Soyuz delivers Resurs-P3,” russianspaceweb, 30 March 2024, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs-p3.html 

4) Anatoly Zak, “Soyuz launches Resurs-P4 imaging satellite,” russianspaceweb, 24 December 2024, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs-p4.html 

5) Anatoly Zak, “Soyuz launches Resurs-P5 imaging satellite,” russianspaceweb, 7 January 2025, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs-p5.html 

6) NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, “Resurs P1,” Date Accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2013-030A

7) Anatoly Zak, “Resurs-P Earth-watching satellite series,” russianspaceweb, 27  January 2025, URL: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/resurs_p.html

8) Akhmetov et al., “High-Precision Geolocation of Earth Surface Images from the Resurs-P Spacecraft,” Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, 2017, URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S000143381709002X 

9) Weebau Spaceflight Encyclopedia, “Resurs-P 1,” 8 August 2013, URL: https://weebau.com/satellite/R/resursp1.htm

10) OSCAR, “Satellite: Resurs-P1,” 23 August 2022, URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/resurs_p1 

11) OSCAR, “Satellite: Resurs-P2,” 1 December 2022, URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/resurs_p2 

12) OSCAR, “Satellite: Resurs-P3,” 1 December 2022, URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/resurs_p3 

13) OSCAR, “Satellite: Resurs-P4,” 21 October 2024, URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/resurs_p4 

14) OSCAR, “Satellite: Resurs-P5,” 26 December2024, URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/resurs_p5 

15) NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, “Resurs P2,” Date Accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2014-087A 

16) NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, “RESURS P3,” Date Accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2016-016A 

17) NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, “Resurs P4,” Date Accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2024-061A 

18) NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, “RESURS P5,” Date Accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2024-250A 

19) CEOS EO HANDBOOK, “CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - Resurs-P N1,” Date accessed: 28 February 2025, URL: https://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=624&utm_source=eoportal&utm_content=resurs-p

20) Nikolay Golovin, “Roscosmos has shown the first images taken by the Resurs-P No. 5 satellite,” Naked Science, 4 January 2025, URL: https://naked-science.ru/community/1021623

21) Jeff Foust, “Low-intensity explosion caused Russian satellite to spew debris,” 6 July 2024, URL: https://spacenews.com/low-intensity-explosion-caused-russian-satellite-to-spew-debris/ 

22) U.S. Space Command, “Press Release: Break-up of Russian-owned space object,” 27 June 2024, URL:https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/3819238/press-release-break-up-of-russian-owned-space-object/

23) TASS, Satellite Resurs-P No. 1 removed from constellation after failure of onboard equipment,” 18 January 2022, URL: https://tass.ru/kosmos/13463387 

24) SCANEX, “ROSCOSMOS and SCANEX Have Made an Agreement on Distribution of “Resurs-P” and “Kanopus-V” Data,” 20 December 2016, URL: https://www.scanex.ru/en/company/news/resurs-and-kanopus/ 

25) Kirilin et al., “Remote sensing system Resurs-P,” 2017, URL: https://conf.racurs.ru/images/presentations/2017/RSS_Resurs_P.pdf

26) A. Peshkun, "Resurs-P capabilities and standard products," The 14th International Scientific and Technical Conference, 'From imagery to map digital photogrammetric technologies,' China, Oct. 20-22, 2014, URL: https://slideplayer.com/slide/3349015/

27) Kirilin et al., “Resurs-P Earth Remote Sensing constellation,” 17th International Scientific and Technical Conference “FROM IMAGERY TO DIGITAL REALITY: ERS & Photogrammetry”, 2017, URL: https://conf.racurs.ru/conf2017/eng/program/17th_Racurs_Conference_Proceedings.pdf