Probe-Holding: Skif Satellite Communication System

Main article: Space satellites of countries of the world

2023

Development of RKS on-board antenna system for Skif satellites

Specialists of the Russian Space Systems Holding (RKS, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) on October 24, 2023 announced the development of an on-board antenna system for promising satellites of the Skif series. This system guarantees stable broadband data transmission at speeds up to 420 megabits per second in hard-to-reach areas of Russia and in the future throughout the Earth. Read more here.

Roscosmos signed a contract for the creation of the first satellites of the Sphere system

Roscosmos has signed a contract for the development and manufacture of the first stage of the orbital grouping as part of six spacecraft of the Skif medium-orbital broadband Internet access system, which is part of the Sphere federal project. The press service of the state corporation announced this on October 24, 2023.

By this period, a draft design is being developed, the protection of which is planned until the end of 2023. In 2024, it is expected to complete and start manufacturing satellites. The launch of spacecraft is planned in 2026 and 2027. three Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicles - two satellites each.

Roscosmos signed a contract for the manufacture of the first stage of the Skif group

As recalled in Roskosmos, the Skif system is designed to provide high-speed broadband Internet access using small-sized VSAT terminals. Its constellation will consist of 12 satellites operating in three planes with an orbital inclination of 90 degrees to the equator and an altitude of 8070 km, which will ensure the best quality of service provision, including in the northern regions of Russia.

Roscosmos added on October 24, 2023, that the Skif-D demonstration satellite launched a year ago is completing the flight-experimental testing stage. Its main task - the protection of the orbital-frequency resource - has been solved, the state corporation emphasized.

On October 24, 2023, Roscosmos also announced work on the inclusion in the Sphere project of the Griffon multi-satellite optical and electronic survey system with implementation on the basis of a specialized industry operator and attracting external investments. As specified in the state corporation, the orbital grouping of the system will include 136 small spacecraft, which will allow receiving data every 30 hours from Russia and at least 38 hours around the world. It will analyze data to identify changes in natural phenomena and man-made processes, regulate transport flows and monitor mining.^[1]

Roscosmos launches production of Skif satellites for satellite Internet

The company "Information Satellite Systems" named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev signed a state contract with "Roskosmos" for the creation of spacecraft for the new satellite communication system "Skif" in the interests of the federal project "Sphere." The press service of the state corporation announced this on August 14, 2023. Read more here.

Roscosmos has installed ground satellite communication stations Skif

Read more here.

2022: Receiving government funding

In mid-January 2022, it became known that state funding was received by the Marathon IoT and Skif satellite projects, which are part of the Sphere program. According to Roscosmos, for the implementation of these initiatives, subsidies were allocated from the federal budget in the direction of "Development of promising multi-satellite systems" of the state program "Space Activities of Russia." Read more here.

2021: Radio Frequency Acquisition

Zond-Holding JSC received radio frequency bands for using the Skif satellite communication system based on the SKY-F-KU spacecraft RES in an orbital position of 157 ° E. This will be the only satellite in geostationary orbit in the family of medium-altitude satellites of the Skif constellation.

The allocation of frequencies for the use of the Skif satellite communication system based on the RES (radio-electronic means) of the SKY-F-KU spacecraft is stated in the decision of the State Committee for Radio Frequencies (State Commission on Radio Frequencies) No. 21-59-04 following the meeting on August 2, 2021: Allocate 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.7 GHz, 12.5-12.75 GHz radio frequency bands to Probe-Holding Joint Stock Company (Cosmos-Earth) and 13.75-14.5 GHz (Earth-Space) to use the Skif satellite communication system based on the SKY-F-KU spacecraft RES at an orbital position of 157 ° E, RES of central earth stations of types ZOND-4.5/KU and ZOND-3.8/KU, and RES of earth stations of types ZOND-3.7/KU, ZOND-3.0/KU, ZOND-2.7/KU, ZOND-2.4/KU and ZOND-1.8/KU) under the conditions defined in Appendix No. 3. " The Appendix, including the following: "Submission of relevant application materials to the International Telecommunication Union in accordance with the established procedure no later than three years from the date of this decision of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting; The use of radio frequency bands allocated by this GKRCH solution shall be carried out for a period of ten years from the date of this decision. "

In March 2021, at a round table on VSAT held by ComNews, Viktor Donianz, General Director of Probe Holding JSC, said that the company will be in 2022. will launch the first satellite of the Skif group (the full composition of the group - 12 spacecraft) into medium Earth orbit: 3 planes with a polar inclination, 4 satellites each. According to Victor Donianz, the issue of financing the manufacture and launch of the first Skif satellite has been resolved.

Allocation of radio frequencies for the use of the Skif satellite communication system based on the SKY-F-KU spacecraft RES in the orbital position of 157 ° E. means that "SKY-F-KU" will be put into geostationary orbit.

Victor Donianz explained to ComNews that Skif is a common name for the satellite family. And, although 12 of them are planned to launch in medium-high orbit, a request for one point was submitted to the geostationary.

This will be our satellite - we cannot speak who the manufacturer is. We are at the stage of obtaining a decision of the State Committee for Emergency Situations, - explained Victor Donianz.

Regarding financing, he said that the option of PPP (public-private partnership) is being considered, but so far it is necessary to change the legislation on PPP and wait for this next convocation of the State Duma, since so far nothing has been said about satellite constellations in the legislation concerning PPP.

To other questions: about what functions are assigned to the geostationary satellite in the family and others, Viktor Donianz replied that under the agreement with Roscosmos he could not disclose details.

The launch of the first Skif-D spacecraft (in medium orbit) is planned within the framework of the Sphere program of the Roscosmos Group of Companies in 2022. In Roscosmos and JSC ISS named after Academician M.F. Reshetneva, which also takes part in the Skif project, ComNews did not respond to a request.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which distributes satellite frequencies and orbits, sets a deadline for each recipient - if the satellite (s) are not launched before it arrives, then the recipient loses priority. Zond-Holding received priority at ITU for an average altitude orbit in October 2015, for a period of 7 years. Accordingly, this period expires in October 2022, and Zond- Holding should launch at least one satellite before that moment. But these are not all the requirements of the ITU: for NGSO-groupings (non-geostationary satellite systems), it was established that after 9 years from the moment of orbit/frequency allocation, at least 10% of the grouping should be launched, which for Skif meant the need to launch 1-2 more vehicles until October 2024. Probably, with the appearance of a geostationary satellite in the Skif family, this requirement will lose^[2].

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