In Russia, the production of the first satellite of the Skif system has begun, which, like its competitors Starlink and OneWeb, is intended for broadband Internet access, RIA Novosti reports, citing materials from the manufacturer – Information Satellite Systems (ISS).
The corresponding spacecraft was named “Skif-D”.
It is noted that “Skif” will become part of the multifunctional satellite system “Sphere”.
According to the plans, the “Skif” system will include 12 spacecraft located in orbit at an altitude of 8070 kilometers.
In August, Dmitry Rogozin, the general director of Roscosmos, announced that the state corporation will receive the first funds to create a scientific and technical reserve under the Sphere program in the coming days. “At first, we are talking about seven billion rubles, which should be used to create a scientific and technical reserve, that is, not the group itself, but the prototypes of the grouping,” said the manager.
In June, the general director at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum said that the implementation of the Russian space program “Sphere” will cost 800 billion rubles, of which 500 billion are extra-budgetary funds.
In the same month, ISS Deputy General Designer Alexander Kuzovnikov at the XIV International Navigation Forum in Moscow told TASS that the first demonstration satellite of the Skif system is planned to be launched in the fall of 2022.
