For 2021, Roscosmos has planned six priority works, in particular, three research works
MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. The program for the creation of a multi-satellite group "Sphere" has been submitted to the Government for consideration. This was reported to journalists at the educational marathon "New Knowledge" by the executive director of Roscosmos for advanced programs and science Alexander Bloshenko.
"We have submitted this program to the government," he said.
According to the executive director, six priority works are planned for 2021, in particular, three research works. In particular, Roscosmos will consider which small satellite platforms can be used. In particular, the platforms of the Skolkovo resident companies will be considered.
In the fall of 2022, Bloshenko said, it is planned to launch the Skif demonstrator to secure the orbital frequency resource, and in the fall of 2023-the demonstrator of the Marathon satellite group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the Sphere program on the direct line on June 7, 2018. Then he noted that the Russian Federation plans to launch more than 600 communication and remote sensing satellites. In December 2020, a source told TASS that the work for 2021 has already been determined, and the program for creating a multi-satellite group "Sphere", finalized according to the comments of the Russian Ministry of Finance, will be sent to the government for approval in the first half of 2021.
Earlier, Alexander Bloshenko told TASS that the main performers have started work on the Sphere program. According to him, the procedures for bringing budget financing and concluding contracts are currently being carried out.