OREANDA-NEWS. March 19, 2010. Reshetnev Informational Satellites Systems company commences design and development of new communication spacecraft Gonets-M1 which is to provide private satellite services. Gonets-M1 draft design documentation has been prepared already.

The spacecraft is intended for multifunctional private satellite communication system GONETS-D1M. The system is developed by Reshetnev ISS under the governmental contract in the framework of the Federal Space Program, 2006-2015.

Gonets-M1, similar to its predecessors, will maintain communication services for remote regions with undeveloped infrastructure, as well as ecological, industrial and scientific monitoring.

New satellites will have enhanced capabilities, compare to spacecraft of previous generation Gonets-D1 and Gonets-M. For Gonets-M1, weighing no more than 250kg, active lifetime is to be enlarged up to 10 years. Economical parameters of the system will be improved due to the opportunity to launch 4 satellites in a cluster. Data transmission rate will be enhanced by 30 times, thus providing users in remote areas of Russia to get satellite services.