 A Gonets-M satellite at Salon du Bourget in 2013. | |
| Manufacturer | NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Operator | Gonets SatCom (1996-present) Roscosmos (1992-1996) |
| Applications | Communications |
| Specifications | |
| Bus | Gonets |
| Launch mass | 233 to 280 kg |
| Power | 40 watts fromsolar panels |
| Batteries | Nickel-hydrogen |
| Equipment | UHF transponders[1] (B-band /D-band) Data rate up to 64 kbit/s |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Design life | 5 years (planned) |
| Production | |
| Status | Active |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | Strela |
Gonets (Russian Гонец, forMessenger) is a Russian civilianlow Earth orbitcommunications satellite system. It consists of a number of satellites, derived fromStrela military communications satellites. The first two satellites, which were used to test and validate the system, were launched by aTsyklon-3launch vehicle from thePlesetsk Cosmodrome on 13 July 1992,[2] and were designatedGonets-D.[3] The first operational satellites, designatedGonets-D1, were launched on 19 February 1996.[3] After launch, the first three satellites were given militaryKosmos designations, a practice which was not continued with the other satellites.[2]
Ten operational satellites and two demonstration spacecraft have been placed in orbit. A further three were lost in a launch failure on 27 December 2000. A new series of modernised Gonets satellites,Gonets-D1M, supplement and replace the satellites which are currently in orbit. A single first D1M satellite was launched by aKosmos-3M launch vehicle on 21 December 2005.[4] A second Gonets-D1M satellite was launched by aRokot launch vehicle on 8 September 2010.[4]
Gonets satellites are operated along with the third generationLuch satellites by Gonets Satellite System company. Gonets was originally aRoscosmos programme, but in 1996 it was privatised and operated by Gonets Satellite System,[5] which was controlled byISS Reshetnev.[6] In 2017,Roscosmos acquired 80% of Gonets SatCom fromISS Reshetnev. The remaining 20% were held byDauria Satcom.[7] By 2018, Dauria Satcom sold the shares toBusiness-Sfera ofCoalco group while Roscosmos sold 29% to other private investors. Gonets SatCom has become a Russian space industry company with the largest (49%) share of private capital.[8]
As of 2016[update], the Gonets orbit group comprises 25 second-generation spacecraft "Gonets-M" and 1 first-generation "Gonets-D1". The orbital group performs the task of direct communication with subscribers at any point of the globe. With such a number of spacecraft in the Gonets orbit group, the system provides communication with waiting time characteristics as indicated in the following table. The next 3 Gonets-M satellites will be launched in 2022 by an Angara-1.2 launcher from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.[9]
| City, location | latitude | Session probability = 0.9 Waiting time | Session probability = 0.8 Waiting time | Session probability = 0.7 Waiting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meru, Kenya | 0° | 25.04 min | 19.98 min | 13.54 min |
| Fuli, Vietnam / Vitoria, Brazil | 20° / −20° | 19.47 min | 14.97 min | 8.85 min |
| Yerevan, Armenia / Wellington, New Zealand | 40° / −40° | 17.79 min | 12.04 min | 6.08 min |
| Belgorod, Russia / Isla Duque de York, Chile | 50° / −50° | 15.00 min | 8.19 min | 2.17 min |
| Vyborg, Russia / Orcadas Antarctic Station | 60° / −60° | 5.64 min | 1.78 min | 0.00 min |
| Kara Gate Straight, Barents Sea / Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctic | 70° / −70° | 3.45 min | 0.00 min | 0.00 min |
| Gall Island, North Arctic Ocean / Antarctic Kunlun Station | 80° / −80° | 0.00 min | 0.00 min | 0.00 min |
| North Pole /Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station | 90° / −90° | 0.00 min | 0.00 min | 0.00 min |
Technical characteristics of subscriber terminals 0.3–0.4 GHz
| Transmitter power | 8–10 W |
| Positioning accuracy by GPS/GLONASS | up to 10 m |
| Modulation | GMSK |
| Power supply | AC 220 V, DC 12 V |
| Weight | 100–300 g |
| Bitrates: "Subscriber – Satellite" | 2.4–9.6 kbit/s |
| Bitrates: "Satellite – Subscriber" | 9.6–76.8 kbit/s |
