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Relek → Vernov (MKA-PN 2)

Relek [Roskosmos]

Relek (Relyativistskiye Elektrony, Релятивистские электроны) or MKA-PN 2 is a Russian microsatellite featuring a magnetospheric scientific payloads:

The Relek payload is to study electron precipitation.

Relek is based on Lavochkin's Karat microsatellite bus. Originally the satellite was also to feature the Monika payload to study solar cosmic rays, but this experiment has been discontinued in 2012. Monika is now planned to fly at a later date on a different platform.

In December 2014 the satellite was renamed Vernov after Soviet physicist Sergei Vernov. Shortly after, the satellite failed to communicate with the ground station. It ceased operations after just five months in orbit, instead of planned three years.

Nation: Russia
Type / Application: Science, solar cosmic rays, magnetosphere
Operator:
Contractors: NPO Lavochkin
Equipment:
Configuration: Karat-Bus
Propulsion: APPT-45-2 thruster
Power: 3 deployable, fixed solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 3 years (planned); 5 months (achieved)
Mass: ~ 250 kg
Orbit: 622 km × 818 km, 98.3
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Relek → Vernov (MKA-PN 2) (ex Monika-Relek) 2014-037B 08.07.2014 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-2-1b Fregat with Meteor-M 2, TechDemoSat 1, SkySat 2, DX 1, AISSat 2, UKube 1, M3MSat-Dummy

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