Gonets

Gonets (Russian Гонец, for Messenger) is a Russian civilian low Earth orbit communications satellite system. It consists of a number of satellites, derived from Strela military communications satellites. The first two satellites, which were used to test and validate the system, were launched by a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on 13 July 1992,[2] and were designated Gonets-D.[3] The first operational satellites, designated Gonets-D1, were launched on 19 February 1996.[3] After launch, the first three satellites were given military Kosmos designations, a practice which was not continued with the other satellites.[2]

Gonets
A Gonets-M satellite at Salon du Bourget in 2013.
ManufacturerNPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki
Country of originRussia
OperatorGonets SatCom (1996-present)
Roscosmos (1992-1996)
ApplicationsCommunications
Specifications
BusGonets
Design life5 years (planned)
Launch mass233 to 280 kg
Power40 watts from solar panels
BatteriesNickel-hydrogen
EquipmentUHF transponders [1]
(B-band / D-band)
Data rate up to 64 kbits/s
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Dimensions
Production
StatusActive
Related spacecraft
Derived fromStrela

Ten operational satellites and two demonstration spacecraft have been placed in orbit. A further three were lost in a launch failure on 27 December 2000. A new series of modernised Gonets satellites, Gonets-D1M, supplement and replace the satellites which are currently in orbit. A single first D1M satellite was launched by a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle on 21 December 2005.[4] A second Gonets-D1M satellite was launched by a Rokot launch vehicle on 8 September 2010.[4]

Operator

Gonets satellites are operated along with the third generation Luch satellites by Gonets Satellite System company. Gonets was originally a Roscosmos programme, but in 1996 it was privatised and operated by Gonets Satellite System,[5] which was controlled by ISS Reshetnev.[6] In 2017, Roscosmos acquired 80% of Gonets SatCom from ISS Reshetnev. The remaining 20% were held by Dauria Satcom.[7] By 2018, Dauria Satcom sold the shares to Business-Sfera of Coalco group while Roscosmos sold 29% to other private investors. Gonets SatCom has become a Russian space industry company with the largest (49%) share of private capital.[8]

User characteristics

As of 2016, the Gonets orbit group comprises 12 second-generation spacecraft "Gonets-M" and 1 first-generation "Gonets-D1". The orbital group performs the task of direct communication with subscribers at any point of the globe. With such a number of spacecraft in the Gonets orbit group, the system provides communication with waiting time characteristics as indicated in the following table. The next 3 Gonets-M satellites will be launched in December 2020 by a Soyuz-1b launcher with a Fregat upper stage from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.[9]

City, location  latitude  Session probability = 0.9 Waiting timeSession probability = 0.8 Waiting timeSession probability = 0.7 Waiting time
Meru, Kenya25.04 min19.98 min13.54 min
Fuli, Vietnam / Vitoria, Brazil20° / −20°19.47 min14.97 min8.85 min
Yerevan, Armenia / Wellington, New Zealand40° / −40°17.79 min12.04 min6.08 min
Belgorod, Russia / Isla Duque de York, Chile50° / −50°15.00 min8.19 min2.17 min
Vyborg, Russia / Orcadas Antarctic Station60° / −60°5.64 min1.78 min0.00 min
Kara Gate Straight, Barencts Sea / Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctic70° / −70°3.45 min0.00 min0.00 min
Gall Island, North Arctic Ocean / Antarctic Kunlun Station80° / −80°0.00 min0.00 min0.00 min
North Pole / Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station90° / −90°0.00 min0.00 min0.00 min

Technical characteristics of subscriber terminals 0.3–0.4 GHz

Transmitter power8–10 W
Positioning accuracy by GPS/GLONASSup to 10 m
ModulationGMSK
Power supplyAC 220 V, DC 12 V
Weight100–300 g
Bitrates: "Subscriber – Satellite"2.4–9.6 kbit/s
Bitrates: "Satellite – Subscriber"9.6–76.8 kbit/s

See also

References

  1. "GONETS". Small Satellites Home Page. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008.
  2. Wade, Mark. "Strela". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008.
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Gonets". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Gonets-M". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  5. "Leosat system "Gonets"". Gonets SatCom. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008.
  6. "Investors - GONETS Leosat system". gonets.ru. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
  7. "«Гонца» отправили в «Роскосмос»" [Messenger has been sent to Roscosmos] (in Russian). Kommersant. 19 April 2017.
  8. "Акционер достиг «Гонца»" [A shareholder has reached the Messenger] (in Russian). Kommersant. 23 March 2018.
  9. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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