Resurs-P

Resurs-P (Russian: Ресурс-П (перспективный), lit. 'Resource-P (Prospecting)') is a series of Russian commercial Earth observation satellites capable of acquiring high-resolution hyperspectral (HSI), wide-field multispectral (MSI), and panchromatic imagery. These spacecraft cost over 5 billion rubles and are operated by Roscosmos replacing the Resurs-DK No.1 satellite. Imagery collected by Resurs-P satellites are used by the Russian Ministries of Agriculture, Fishing, Meteorology, Transportation, Emergencies, Natural Resources, and Defense for map making, environmental control, agricultural monitoring, hydrology, measuring soil salinity, and searching for potential oil or mineral deposits. The Russian Ministry of Defense also used the satellite for military purposes to include surveying terrain in support of operations in Syria. In December 2021 it was announced that a new series, Resurs-PM, would replace the Resurs-P series with a first launch in 2023 or 2024. As of January 2022, only one of the three launched Resurs-P satellites remain active, Resurs-P No.3. At least two more satellites of the series are planned, with the satellite No.4 undergoing testing and the satellite No.5 being assembled and expected to be delivered to the launch site in 2023. On March 31, 2024, Russia launched its fourth Resurs-P satellite into space, the Russian Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the high-detail Earth observation satellite No. 4 Resurs-P was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, located in Kazakhstan.