Monitor-E

Monitor-E [Khrunichev]

Monitor-E is a low-orbiting experimental spacecraft based on a new multi-purpose space platform and featuring new earth surface imagers. It is the prototype of more specialized Monitor Earth observation satellites.

Monitor-E will provide imagery of the ground in two modes: along-track imaging – when an imager observes the ground along the spacecraft's track, and route (strip) imaging – in this case the spacecraft may deviate from the flight pass and provide imagery of some regions by user request. The Monitor-E optoelectronic equipment acquires imagery using all four channels simultaneously (over three ranges using multi-band equipment and over one range – panchromatic equipment).

It features:

• Panchromatic imaging of the earth's surface with a 8 m spatial resolution within a swath width of no less than 90 km;
• Multi-band imaging of the earth's surface with a 20-40 m spatial resolution within a swath width of no less than 160 km

The satellite suffered a communication glitch shotly after launch, but communication with the satellite was restored shortly after. Contact with the satellite was again lost 18. October 2005, but later reinstated. Then the satellite entered nominal operations.