Roscosmos has installed ground satellite communication stations Skif

2023

Installation of ground stations

The company "Information Satellite Systems" named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev has developed base ground stations of the Skif system (part of the federal project "Sphere," which includes orbital groupings of communication and remote sensing spacecraft). The press service of Roscosmos announced this on October 16, 2023.

The created equipment with four antenna posts is located in three cities - Murmansk, Norilsk and Anadyr. According to Roskosmos, the Skif system is designed to provide high-speed broadband Internet access using small-sized VSAT terminals. It will consist of 12 satellites operating in three planes with an inclination of 90 degrees orbits to the equator and an altitude of 8070 km. This will ensure the best quality of the Internet in the regions of Russia, including in the north.

Base ground stations of Skif system have been developed

Former Deputy Director of the Strategic Planning and Analytics Service of NIS GLONASS, independent expert Andrei Ionin says that the Skif system at such heights is the fastest way to deploy satellite Internet. The fewer satellites required in this situation, the better.

But satellites in geostationary orbits, which would need only four or five to the country, take poorly at large latitudes. It turns out that you need to adjust the receiver at a very small angle, and because of this, unstable communication arises. Therefore, several satellites on large inclinations will solve this problem. From this point of view, it is right to make such a system first of all, and only then to make a system for mass consumers - low-latitude, but at the same time, I believe that such a system should be done together with the BRICS countries, he added.

The start of the deployment of the regular grouping is scheduled for 2026. The complete grouping will consist of 12 Scythians - 4 on each of the three orbital planes. The mass of one device is 1,750 kg, and the active life of the satellite will be 12 years.^[1]

Spacecraft Contract

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.

Under the terms of the contract, specialists of the Information Satellite Systems enterprise named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev will develop and manufacture the first two satellites for the Skif system, as well as a special ground complex and control complex.

ISS signed a state contract with Roscosmos for the creation of spacecraft for the Skif system

The Skif system is designed to provide high-speed Internet access in the Russian Federation and neighboring regions. Its constellation will consist of 12 satellites operating in three orbital planes at an altitude of 8070 km.

Former Deputy Director of the Strategic Planning and Analytics Service of NIS GLONASS, independent expert Andrei Ionin noted that the Skif system at such altitudes is the fastest way to deploy satellite Internet.

The fewer satellites required in this situation, the better. But satellites in geostationary orbits, which would need only four or five to the country, take poorly at large latitudes. It turns out that you need to adjust the receiver at a very small angle, and because of this, unstable communication arises. Therefore, several satellites on large inclinations will solve this problem. From this point of view, it is right to make such a system first of all, and only then to make a system for mass consumers - low-latitude, but at the same time, I believe that such a system should be done together with the BRICS countries, - said Andrei Ionin.

According to him, China will be able to create a low-orbital constellation of satellites in a year or two, and Russia's participation will make the project international and attractive for other countries "that value sovereignty."^[2]

Notes