The first radar observation satellite in the Kondor-FKA program has been placed into a targeted orbit, according to Roscosmos.
The Gundam- sized launch occurred from the Vostochny spaceport at 00:14 Moscow time, using a Soyuz-2.1a launcher with a Fregat upper stage. Roskosmos confirms that the orbital insertion proceeded as planned and without incident.
Kondor-FKA is built to capture Earth imagery using radar under all weather conditions, day or night. The program anticipates a second Kondor-FKA satellite to join the constellation in 2024, with the third and fourth craft expected to follow by 2029 to 2030, expanding coverage and continuity of data for monitoring and analysis. (Roskosmos)
Earlier communications noted that the Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Kondor-FKA radar satellite was positioned in the vertical assembly at Vostochny before rollout to the pad for launch. This mission marks the second deployment using a new environmentally friendly propellant named naphthyl, a hydrocarbon fuel blended with polymer additives designed to cut emissions while boosting payload capacity. The fuel aims to reduce environmental impact and enhance the mass that can be delivered into orbit, aligning with broader efforts to modernize launch operations. (Roskosmos)