It will start in 2024
Roscosmos said that the production of regular Skif satellites, which will be part of the orbital constellation of the same name, will start in 2024.
“We have signed a contract for the development and production of the first stage of the constellation consisting of six spacecraft of the Skif medium-orbit broadband Internet access system. A preliminary design is currently being developed, and the completion and start of manufacturing are planned for next year,” Roscosmos said in connection with the anniversary of the launch of the Skif constellation demonstrator.
Roscosmos plans to protect the preliminary design by the end of this year and launch two satellites with each Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle in 2026 and 2027.
Roscosmos announced the production of standard Skif satellites
The first Skif-D apparatus within the framework of the federal project “Sphere” was launched on October 22 last year on a Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle from the Vostochny Cosmodrome along with three Gonets-M apparatuses. The full constellation will consist of 12 “Scythians” – 4 on each of the three orbital planes. The mass of one satellite is 1750 kg, and the active service life of the satellite will reach 12 years.
The federal project “Sphere” involves the launch of communications and remote sensing satellites. The project will include five satellite constellations for telecom services and another five for surveillance.
Previously, Roscosmos announced that the Griffin project would be included in the Sphere program.
