Messenger Satellite System

Aktivs

As of April 2017, the Gonets Satellite Systems JSC manages the Gonets personal satellite communication system and the Luch space relay system. The first was conceived back in the USSR as a global intelligence collection network. For this, the Gonets satellites were placed in low Earth orbit: the first device was launched in 1992. And since 1998, the operator of the Gonets system began selling services to commercial consumers. The main clients for 2017 are, in particular, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Transport, Rosatom, Roshydromet, Rosrybolovstvo and Kamov OJSC.

History

2024

Use in fish collection tracking projects

In September 2024, it became known about the use of the Gonets satellite system to effectively track fish accumulations. The new area of ​ ​ application of the system will allow fishing vessels to receive data on places of concentration of fish directly in the fishery, which will significantly reduce fuel costs and time, as well as increase the productivity of the search for biological resources. This decision is aimed at optimizing the operation of ships in Russian waters, especially in areas of the Far East.

According to TASS, the press service of Satellite System Gonets JSC reported that the new technology for transmitting data through satellite channels will be an important step to improve the efficiency of fishing. Satellite equipment will allow ship captains to receive accurate and timely information about the places where fish accumulate, which in turn will help minimize fuel costs and reduce the total time of search operations.

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In addition, the company introduced a new ship station for small vessels, which is made in a single hull and includes a satellite antenna, modem, power supply and control units. This integrated approach reduces site requirements for the installation of equipment, so that captains can use satellite communication without the need for complex and costly installations on ships. The lack of an antenna cable simplifies the process of connecting and operating equipment, making it more accessible to a wide range of users in the fishing industry.

Deputy General Director of Gonets Andrei Manoylo noted that the company is actively working on the introduction of new solutions in the field of satellite communications and plans to further develop technologies for the needs of Russian companies. In the coming years, the company plans to upgrade and expand the existing satellite network, which will improve the quality and speed of data transfer for various industries, including fishing.^[1]

Russia has created the first technology for controlling a drone via satellite. She's already working

On July 16, 2024, the Russian companies Satellite System Gonets and Geoskan successfully completed tests of the first domestic technology for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle via satellite. The experiment, carried out as part of the design and educational intensive Archipelago-2024 in the Sakhalin Region, demonstrated the effectiveness of a new method for monitoring unmanned aircraft in areas with no ground communication channels.

Testing was carried out at the Fluffy airfield. For the experiment, the Geoscan 201 drone was used, equipped with a special on-board Gonets modem and a lightweight antenna. During the tests, six flights were performed, as a result of which 218 information messages with drone telemetry were received and three control commands were transmitted via the Gonets-M satellite.

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Roscosmos.ru

Domestic satellite communication systems with widespread coverage open up much wider horizons for the technological development of unmanned aircraft systems: systems for managing unmanned aircraft complexes, controlling their location, status, flight capabilities in certain zones, significantly reduce the risks of losing aircraft, "said Pavel Cherenkov, General Director of the Gonets Satellite System.

The new technology allows the transfer of drone location and telemetry data to the data center of the Gonets satellite system, as well as sending commands via satellite, including a command to forcibly return the unmanned aircraft to the launch site. This is especially true for territories where there are no other communication channels.

Alexey Yuretsky, General Director of Geoskan, noted that the development of satellite systems for monitoring the location of aircraft is becoming fundamentally important given the scale of Russia. Space technologies will increase the survey area during aerial photography and adjust the flight parameters of an unmanned aircraft in the event of emergency situations.^[2]

Roscosmos allocated frequencies to create a mobile satellite network based on Gonets devices

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) in early June 2024 approved the allocation of frequencies to Roscosmos in the 1.9-2.2 GHz bands for the deployment of a multifunctional personal satellite communications and data transmission system (MSPSS) based on the Gonets-M spacecraft. As follows from the minutes of the last meeting of the commission, the state corporation received permission to use the specified ranges for "BRK-C/S space stations and AT-H, AT-HK and AT-PT-S subscriber earth stations (wearable), AT-B and AT-BK (transported) and AT-ST (stationary)."

According to the protocol, Roscosmos was also provided with frequencies in other bands for organizing feeder radio links, providing functions for the space operation service and receiving data from AIS marine automatic identification systems. In addition, within the framework of the mobile satellite service, frequencies 312-315 MHz (Earth-space) and 387-390 MHz (space-earth) were allocated.

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Freepik

As noted by the deputy general director of Roscosmos Mikhail Khailov in a letter to the head of the apparatus of the State Commission for Radio Frequencies Dmitry Turu, in 2015-2017. the state corporation has already received similar frequency assignments to create a confidential satellite mobile communication system (SKMS), but that project was not implemented.

At the same time, the company "Fitakom," for ten years, which took the initiative to create a mobile satellite network in the same frequency bands, did not receive the required frequency resources. According to the information sheet for the GKRCH meeting, Fitakom received positive conclusions from the Ministry of Defense and the FSO, but was rejected due to objections from Roskomnadzor and Roskosmos itself. As the general director of Fitakom Boris Zvezdarev notes, his company was forced to fail, despite a ten-year study of the S-band mobile satellite communication project.^[3]

For the Russian satellite system "Gonets" create a ground-based data transmission complex

In early April 2024, JSC "Information Satellite Systems" named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev "announced the beginning of the development of a ground-based communication complex for the Gonets personal satellite communication and data transmission system.

As part of this project, the company creates regional stations that will be located in different parts of the Russian Federation to ensure the reception and transmission of information from spacecraft.

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By the beginning of April 2024, design documentation for the ground communication complex is being developed, and after the completion of this stage, the Reshetnev company will begin manufacturing the stations themselves.

The new orbital constellation will include 28 Gonets-M1 satellites weighing 750 kg each, they will have to work in a low orbit with an altitude of 1,500 km. It is assumed that regional stations will provide voice satellite communication, Internet access, satellite monitoring, and will also contribute to the development of the Internet of Things.

The satellite system based on the Gonets-M1 spacecraft will help provide communication throughout Russia, including hard-to-reach places and the Arctic, and will also be able to serve as an infrastructure for the Internet of Things. It is planned to deploy the Gonets-M1 orbital constellation of satellites in 2029.

Flight tests and the placement of regional stations "Gonets-M1" will be held in Vladimir and Zheleznogorsk in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. To test the ground infrastructure, Gonets will place only two control stations that will control all spacecraft, regulating their operation on the necessary sets, as well as turning on and off.

By the end of 2025, the Fifth Generation Russian Private Development Bureau (OKB) will produce and launch two demonstrator cubes into low Earth orbit in the interests of the Gonets satellite communications system^[4]

2023: Announcement of compact satellite terminals

In mid-September 2023, Satellite System Gonets JSC, which is part of the Roscosmos state corporation, presented compact subscriber terminals developed jointly with partners. The details of this project were told by the general director of the company Pavel Cherenkov.

According to him, compact satellite communication terminals are suitable for mobile and stationary subscribers. The size of the standard terminal "Gonets" was previously about 14 cm in length and about 3 cm in thickness. Cherenkov explained that such dimensions were not always acceptable for industry integrators if installation in a limited space or direct embedding on a board was required.

Russian "Gonets" has developed compact satellite terminals

The new terminal successfully copes with these tasks by miniaturizing the device - its length is reduced by almost half, and its thickness is almost three times and is only 11 mm. In addition, the interface part received significant development, which also makes it more convenient for a variety of installations, - said TASS General Director of Satellite System Gonets JSC.

He added that the new Gonets terminals were developed taking into account the complete rejection of components from the sanctions lists, electronic parts available on the domestic market or produced directly in Russia were used.

In early September 2023, Cherenkov announced that the Gonets company, which has a low-orbit mobile satellite communication system, set a record for sales of subscriber equipment. By mid-2023, sales were twice as high as in 2022. Cherenkov added that the growth of the "Messenger" indicators is due to the departure from the Russian market of foreign competitors or the restrictions of their activities.^[5]

2022: Conducting the first testing of subscriber equipment

The Gonets satellite system conducted the first testing of subscriber equipment, which was announced on June 21, 2022. Samples of subscriber terminals "AT-MN-2.1" and products "Gonets-Case" participated in functional tests.

According to the approved program and methodology, a group of specialists of Satellite System Gonets JSC moved on an SUV along a given route and sent information at control points: location coordinates and text messages. At the same time, other specialists who are far from the route carried out data reception and verification of the quality of satellite communication.

Use of the "Messenger-Case" emergency communication module

In accordance with the program, the Gonets-Mobile subscriber terminals were tested, as well as the Case personal portable module for emergency communication "Gonets," designed for operational satellite communication outside the coverage areas of cellular networks.

According to the press service of Satellite System Gonets JSC, testing has confirmed the functionality of transmitting coordinate and test information by satellite terminals from mobile facilities located on rough terrain and in forests.

The data obtained as a result are important for consumers of the public and commercial sectors, including during their transition to domestic satellite communications, the company noted.

The equipment of the Gonets satellite system is compact, does not require tuning for the satellite signal, works under any weather conditions and at any latitude and longitude. It is also claimed that digital solutions developed by Gonets can be flexibly integrated into customer systems that are used in many industries and in everyday life.^[6]

2020

3 Gonets-M satellites launched into orbit to monitor transport from space

On December 3, 2020, the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle (manufactured by the Progress Rocket and Space Center, part of the Roscosmos state corporation) with a block of spacecraft of the Gonets-M low-orbit commercial satellite communications system was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region.

It is noted that after the launch of the Gonets-M communication satellites into orbit, control over the devices was transferred to the customer - Gonets Satellite System JSC. They will be connected to a mobile satellite communication system. In particular, these satellites are involved in the operation of GLONASS and allow you to transfer coordinates from a mobile object to remote observation and communication centers, regardless of the location of the subscriber.

3 Gonets-M satellites were launched into orbit to monitor transport from space

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Pavel Cherenkov, General Director of Gonets Satellite System JSC, commenting on the successful launch of three Gonets-M spacecraft, noted the "extreme importance" of this event, since the new devices will guarantee users the provision of services at the highest level.

The Gonets system allows you to monitor transport, as well as provide mobile personal communications, operational control and management, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

In the current [2020] year, we also commissioned four new regional stations, which radically improved the operation of the ground segment. Therefore, the Gonets system is ready to provide services for various segments with scaling capabilities both by the list of services and by the number of subscribers, he said.

In addition to the Gonets-M communication satellites, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle, launched on December 3, 2020, housed the apparatus of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation - the service platform of the Era-1 spacecraft is designed to work out promising micro-devices and microsystems of orientation and astronautics. The device was assigned the serial number Cosmos-2548. With him, "stable telemetric communication is established and maintained, its onboard systems function in normal mode," the military department specified.^[7]

Satellite system "Messenger 2.0" will never pay off

Investments in the satellite system "Messenger 2.0," focused on the Internet of Things, will never pay off. This was announced in early November 2002 by a representative of the system operator during an online round table "Place of satellite technologies in the Internet of Things market."

The satellite system "Gonets 2.0," I don't think that someday it will pay off 100%, in fact, but for us, for Russia, for state authorities, for special consumers "Gonets 2.0" - this will be the most important strategic object, without which it is quite difficult... For us, for the Russian Federation, to make Marathon (a satellite system for providing Internet of Things services - ed.), To make Gonets a new one that would completely close this market is just a necessity, he said (quoted by RIA Novosti).

Satellite system "Messenger 2.0," focused on IoT, will never pay off

According to him, by the beginning of November 2020, one of the state customers purchases satellite communication services from the American company Iridium. He did not name this client, but earlier it was reported that such services were purchased by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the newspaper notes.

The deployment of the new generation Russian satellite communications group "Gonets" will begin in 2025, said Pavel Cherenkov, general director of the operator company "Satellite System" Gonets. "

Earlier, the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin announced that the new satellite system with the conditional name "Gonets-2" will be focused on providing Internet of Things services.

Oleg Khimochko, deputy general director of the Gonets Satellite System company, said that the group will consist of 28 spacecraft located in four planes, seven vehicles in each segment, in an orbit 1.5 thousand kilometers high, the vehicles will be delivered using Soyuz-2 missiles^[8]

OneWeb withdraws from a joint project with the Russian satellite system "Gonets"

In early October 2020, it became known about the withdrawal of the bankrupt British company OneWeb from a joint project with the Russian JSC Satellite System Gonets. Read more here.

Three satellites "Gonets-M" entered orbit

On September 28, 2020, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the launch of three Gonets-M communication satellites into orbit, as well as 19 more small spacecraft launched on the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.

According to TASS, citing the press service of the department, the Soyuz-2.1b rocket launched at 14:20 Moscow time, ten minutes later the Frigate with 22 satellites separated from it.

This was the first launch of the Gonets-M satellites in 2020 and the first on the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle. Prior to that, such devices were launched into orbit using the Rokot conversion launch vehicle.

The Ministry of Defense announced the launch of three "Messengers-M" and 19 small satellites into orbit

All pre-launch operations and the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b space rocket took place as usual. Ground assets of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces monitored the launch and flight of the launch vehicle, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Then Roscosmos decided to share information about the uniqueness of this mission. It's all about the launch orbits that were formed by the Fregat upper stage. Initially, it launched the main payload (BKA "Gonets-M") into a circular orbit with an altitude of 1500 km and an inclination of 82.5 °. After successfully separating the main payload, the booster unit formed a solar-synchronous circular orbit within two hours in accordance with the requirements of small spacecraft - altitude 575 km, inclination 97.67 °. That is, in just two hours, a change in the inclination of the orbit by 15 ° was ensured, and heights - by 925 km.

The launch of satellites was carried out within the framework of the Federal Space Program of Russia for 2016-2025, which includes maintaining operational readiness and in the regular composition of the Gonets-D1M satellite communications orbital constellation. "Gonets-D1M" includes a standard orbital grouping consisting of 12 low-orbit spacecraft of the Gonets-M series and a ground infrastructure located in Russia.^[9]

The government has allowed the use of military systems to launch Gonets-M satellites

On September 12, 2020, it became known that military systems could be used to launch the Gonets-M satellites. The corresponding order was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Allow the Russian Ministry of Defense to use space systems and military complexes on a contractual basis and attract personnel of military units to ensure launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome with a Soyuz-2 launch vehicle (stage 1b) with the Fregat upper stage of the Gonets-M communication spacecraft block No. 16 (Russian Federation) and associated payload..., - the document says, published on the government website.

Mikhail Mishustin allowed the use of military systems to launch Gonets-M satellites

As a payload, several satellites created by Russian universities will be launched, as well as spacecraft from Finland USA Canada,,,,,. Lithuania UAE Among them are Germany devices for practicing technologies, internet of things space research, identification of civilian vessels, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers reports.

It is noted that this government decision will allow attracting additional extrabudgetary funds to the industry, strengthen Russia's position in the world space services market.

During the launch, satellites will be launched into orbit to develop Internet of Things technologies, space exploration, and identification of civilian vessels.

Block consisting of the Earth remote sensing satellite "Iceye-6" and "Iceye Kh-7" (Republic of Finland), 4 spacecraft for collecting data from the Lemur automatic identification system of sea vessels (USA), 2 technological spacecraft "Kepler-2 (Tars)" (Canada), scientific spacecraft "LacunaSat-3" (Lithuania), scientific spacecraft "MeznSat" (UAE), 5 technological spacecraft "NetSat" (GERMANY), the scientific spacecraft Salsat (GERMANY) and the spacecraft of the Russian universities Descartes, Norby, Yarilo No. 1, Yarilo No. 2^[10]

Cooperation agreement with RTCOM to explore the use of resources of various satellite communication systems

On January 13, 2020, it became known that RTCOM and the Gonets Satellite System signed a cooperation agreement opening up prospects for studying the possibilities of using the resources of various satellite communication systems to increase the availability of modern telecommunications services throughout Russia. Read more here.

2017: Transfer of 80% of shares to Roscosmos

As it became known in April 2017, 80% of the shares of Satellite System Gonets JSC will become the property of Roscosmos. The decision to buy out the company, according to Kommersant's sources^[11] to^[11], on April 12, 2017, the supervisory board of the state corporation adopted. He also approved plans to form a single operator for communication and relay systems on the basis of the company. This, as stated in Roskosmos, will allow him to become a full participant in the world market for these services.

Later, a government decree should be issued obliging to transfer 80% of the shares of JSC Satellite System Gonets, owned at that time by JSC Information Satellite Systems named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev (ISS), to the ownership of the state corporation Roscosmos. The corresponding decision was made on April 12 by the supervisory board of the state corporation, which also approved the development strategy of Roscosmos until 2030. Sources in the government told Kommersant that nine out of eleven members of the supervisory board voted for the transfer of shares. In particular, the deal was supported by the general director of the Rostec state corporation Sergei Chemezov, presidential aide Andrei Belousov, the head of Roscosmos Igor Komarov, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

At this time, in addition to ISS, the shareholder of Satellite System Gonets JSC is Dauria Satkom LLC, which will retain its 20% stake. The amount of the transaction between ISS and Roskosmos was not disclosed.

The head of the state corporation Igor Komarov reported that the Roscosmos development program until 2030 was approved by the supervisory board on April 12, 2017 at a meeting of the president Russia Vladimir Putin with members of the government. The plan was discussed back in November 2016 at a meeting with the president.

"Instructions were given to work out such areas as the commercialization of space services and services, increasing the efficiency of the ISS, improving quality," Mr. Komarov said last week

According to Kommersant's sources, the decision to buy out 80% of the shares of Satellite System Gonets JSC by Roscosmos was prepared for about a year. The state corporation assessed all risks and received approval from the Federal Antimonopoly Service. According to company representatives, its revenue in recent years has shown steady growth: in 2012, the figure was 150 million rubles, and in 2016 - 700 million rubles.

According to Kommersant's information, in addition to the issue of the deal, on April 12, the Roscosmos supervisory board decided to create a single operator of the state corporation for communication and relay systems on the basis of Gonets Satellite Systems JSC.

The press service of Roscosmos confirmed to Kommersant that the supervisory board had decided to acquire the company's shares, as well as information about the creation of a single operator. The latter "will allow the state corporation to become a full participant in the world market for these services," emphasized in Roskosmos. As the head of the company Dmitry Bakanov told Kommersant, information about the sale of 80% of the shares to him "is known at the level of rumors, but the protocol of the decision did not come to us."

In addition, as it became known to Kommersant, in March 2017, Roscosmos approved the development strategy of Satellite System Gonets JSC. Recall that according to the results of a special competition announced by the state corporation in 2016, Gonets Satellite System JSC determines the appearance of low-orbit and geostationary satellite systems. As Igor Komarov previously reported, the results of the work should be announced in the spring of 2017.

2013: Criminal case against former CEO

In February 2013, Interior Ministry investigators searched the house of Alexander Galkevich, the former general director of Satellite System Gonets OJSC. Investigators suspect him of causing damage to the state in the amount of 350 million rubles when purchasing components for satellite systems. The current general director of "Messenger" Dmitry Bakanov told Izvestia correspondent Ivan Cheberko about how the materials that formed the basis of the criminal case against Galkevich were formed. Source^[12].

Dmitry, tell us how the case was formed, in which the former general director of the company, Alexander Galkevich, was charged. Your organization here acts as a victim. Did you write a statement to the police?

Not quite, the statement was written by representatives of Roscosmos, where I sent the materials. If you tell in order, then after I headed the company, in 2011, there was a need to figure out what was happening. To do this, I conducted an internal audit. The company, in fact, was in a pre-bankruptcy state - any creditor could initiate bankruptcy proceedings. I conducted audit procedures openly, together with all employees of the company, including Galkevich's team - his deputies, economists. Upon completion of these works, I contacted the former director, inviting him to curate the act of acceptance of cases and the results of the audit.

He then refused to communicate with me, did not appear on the board of directors, although I sent him an official telephone message. So that there is no later talk that we did not notify someone properly. We sent the materials we prepared to Roscosmos. Further, from the space agency, these materials were sent to the Fourth Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a pre-investigation check. Upon its completion, investigative procedures began, which lasted about a year and now led to the indictment of Galkevich.

The charge was brought for abuse of authority, expressed in the payment of 9.5 million rubles under fictitious labor contracts. At the same time, in the information from the investigating authorities, it was about other episodes...

In the materials that I sent to the space agency, there were 12 episodes described as a result of an internal audit. The criminal case, as we know from official information from law enforcement agencies, was initiated in the case of "dead souls" - fictitious employees of the company. As far as I know, there is a check on several more episodes.

Can you describe them?

At the time of Galkevich's dismissal, the company had total debt in the amount of more than 1 billion rubles. Taking into account that Gonets is performing work on government contracts, it is not entirely clear how such a debt could have formed on the company. Most likely, someone did something outside the framework of the calendar - at their discretion.

Most importantly, obligations to foreign companies were drawn up - BBP International and Quake Global. Agreements were concluded with them for the development of equipment. The work was carried out on the initiative of the former leadership of "Messenger," for the most part they were not spelled out in state contracts. For example, only their manufacturer, ISS named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev, is authorized to purchase electronic equipment for the satellite. Nevertheless, a contract was signed with BBP International for the supply of equipment for the satellite, and it was purchased in incomplete nomenclature.

This is actually nonsense, all the same as if the dealership of some automaker decided to buy equipment for this manufacturer without the latter's knowledge. Perhaps the purchases were at inflated prices - this will be established by law enforcement agencies. The ISS eventually met us halfway, agreeing to take over the rights of claim under the contract with BBP, which allowed us to withdraw 350 million rubles of debt from the company. With Quake Global - the developer of subscriber devices - we had to sue in international arbitration in Paris. As a result, we signed a settlement agreement with Quake, according to which the volume of claims from the company to us decreased from $830 thousand to $450 thousand.

Is the Fourth Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs working under these contracts?

Yes. Another episode, which is being checked, concerns the writing of a draft design for the appearance of the Gonets-M1 spacecraft. For some reason, this contract included work on the creation of an automated complex of a ground-based information and analytical system. These are completely different topics. For this work, on the result of which the parent organization - TsNIIMash - gave a negative conclusion, the company paid 21 million rubles. Plus, in the work of the investigators, the case of paying the former leadership of the "golden parachutes." Galkevich himself demanded to pay 15 million rubles of compensation, which he himself prescribed in the contract. We refused, he filed a lawsuit. The company won the case, and we did not pay him anything.

How much investigative actions affect the company's activities now?

It's a tough moment for the company. Reputational risks arise: it is difficult to explain to customers that claims affect exclusively the previous management. People hear on TV about a criminal case, about searches, they have questions. Investigators come to us to seize documents - there have been several of them over the past year - as a result, the work of the accounting department stands up. They conduct polls, call witnesses, take testimony. It is extremely important for us now to draw a line, to leave criminal events in the past.

Notes