Russia has recently launched the world’s first Arctic observation satellite system over the weekend. The system relies on data from two Arktika-M satellites operated by Roscosmos. The purpose of this new constellation is to provide continuous meteorological and environmental monitoring of the Arctic surface, including the Northern Sea Route.
Roscosmos stated that this system enables permanent observation of the Arctic regions and its surrounding areas, a first of its kind globally. The full Arktika mission constellation is set to include a total of 10 Earth-orbiting satellites. These will consist of communication and GPS satellites, commercial satellites, and remote sensing satellites. They will be positioned in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) to ensure around-the-clock coverage of high latitudes, which is not currently offered by existing international geostationary satellites.
The Arktika system will have various applications, including hydrocarbon exploration to support Russia’s efforts in exploiting the Arctic’s oil and gas resources. Additionally, the system will provide crucial telecommunications services for air traffic and commercial shipping in the Arctic region. Russia has been heavily investing in the development of the Northern Sea Route near the Siberian coastline, aiming to establish it as an alternative shipping route that significantly reduces the distance between the Far East and the West compared to the Suez Canal route. As sea ice in the Arctic continues to recede, shipping activity along this route is expected to increase.
