Three GONETS satellites, equipped with the instruments of SADKO radio-engineering complex, designed by RIPI’ engineers, for the first time were successfully put into orbit by SOYUZ-2.1b launch vehicle. The liftoff took placed from the Plesetsk launch site on September 28, 2020, at 2.20 pm MSK. Previously, the communications satellites were delivered into orbit by the CYCLONE, COSMOS and ROKOT carrier rockets. 

A stable communication with spacecraft is maintained, telemetry information is acquired and commands are transmitted from the central stations of the ground-based control complex for the GONETS-D1M multifunctional personal satellite communications system (MPSCS).  

GONETS-D1M is the Russian satellite communications system, designed for data transmission and providing services to users around the world. It is capable of transmitting coordinates of GLONASS/GPS users from any location in Russia and in the world; allows for the transmission and acquisition of text messages of any size.

The general contractor, responsible for the building of the GONETS-D1M MPSCS with regard to the space complex is Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems company (ISS-Reshetnev Company); co-executor, responsible for the building of the communications complex is JSC RIPI; and  the operator of the Roscosmos state Corporation, responsible for providing satellite communications and relaying services is JSC Satellite System GONETS.

RIPI is designing SADKO onboard radio-engineering complex (REC) instruments for GONETS-M spacecraft; communications protocols; software/hardware assets for regional and central stations, communications complex control center and communications control center.

RIPI also together with JSC Satellite System GONETS produce user terminals of various modifications.

Alexander Kotov, RIPI’s Chief Constructor, said:

- Since 2017, RIPI has manufactured 10 complete sets of SADKO RECs for GONETS-M spacecraft and delivered them to ISS-Reshetnev Company. Testing of another three SADKO RECs have also been completed and preparations are being made for the production of the following sets.

GONETS-D1M orbital constellation is one of the largest in the Russian Federation after the GLONASS system.

The GONETS-D1M personal satellite communications system provides effective monitoring at low cost of satellite-based subscription services. Currently, communications complex control center, communications control center and one of the central stations (at RIPI’s) have been deployed in Moscow, the other central station has been deployed in Zheleznogorsk. Regional stations are operating in the capital, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Zheleznogorsk.  New regional stations were deployed in Murmansk, Norilsk, Anadyr and Rostov-on-Don late in 2019.

 RIPI Press Service, using the materials
of ITAR-TASS News Agency, RIA Novosti
and ROSCOSMOS Press Service