Resurs Earth observation satellite climbs to operational orbit, delivers first photos

The Russian Resurs-P No.3 satellite continues its in-orbit testing campaign and delivered its first photos of the planet, despite problems with one of the satellite’s solar arrays that failed to fully deploy shortly after launch.

EARSCApril 11, 2016

Now in its operational orbit, the satellite will continue commissioning and calibration for several weeks before joining the Resurs-P No.1 and 2 satellites as part of the operational satellite constellation.

The 5,700-Kilogram Resurs-P No.3 satellite soared into orbit on 13 March atop a Soyuz 2-1B rocket making a nighttime liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Soyuz dropped the satellite off in the expected elliptical transfer orbit after a flawless ascent mission and Resurs-P No.3 completed its first steps in orbit while still flying over Russian ground stations.