Subscribe with SteadyRelek → 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 |
Launch Sites:
- Ba = Baikonur (Tyuratam, NIIP-5, GIK-5), Tyuratam, Kazakhstan
Further MKA-PN missions:
