Russia has lost an advanced military ocean surveillance satellite launched on Saturday, TASS news agency reported Monday.
The Kanopus-ST satellite was one of the two military-purpose spacecrafts launched by the Soyuz-2.1B rocket from Russia's Plesetsk cosmodrome.
The satellite failed to separate from the rocket due to a technical malfunction, the source said.
It is expected to burn up upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday, TASS reported, citing North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Russian aerospace industry sources.
Kanopus-ST was a dual-purpose satellite designed to scan Earth's oceans in both optical and UHF ranges. It was under construction for 10 years and considered a highly advanced spacecraft, the Kommersant newspaper reported Monday.
Civilian scientists could have used it as a meteorological and a hydrological instrument. It could scan the sea and spot submarines along with other objects for the military, according to Kommersant.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.