OREANDA-NEWS. July 31, 2012. Two Gonets-M satellites, a spacecraft for the Ministry of Defence and a small satellite Mir, all designed and built by Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, were successfully launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on July 28, 2012.

The satellites have already reached the designated orbit and now their payload instruments are pointing earthward. Mission control center team has commenced carrying out TT&C activities. According to the received telemetry data, all foldable mechanical structures successfully deployed and on-board systems are working correctly.

In-orbit tests are expected to be completed within a month, and after that the spacecraft will commence fulfilling their missions.

Gonets-M satellites are intended to track and monitor mobile objects in the interest of government institutions, to provide communications and data transmission services in remote areas, as well as to facilitate scientific and environmental monitoring. The main users of these services will be the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, the Ministry of Transport, Rosatom, and other government agencies and organizations.

The small satellite MiR is designed to test new engineering and technological solutions and to carry out research missions. It accommodates about 20 recently-developed instruments which were sent to space to obtain flight-proven status.