MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The orbital fleet of the Gonets system will comprise 24 Gonets-M satellites, Dmitry Bakanov, president of the operator company Gonets Satellite System, told Interfax-AVN.
"Initially the Federal Space Program and the feasibility study of the Gonets system stated that the orbital fleet should consist of 24 Gonets-M satellites. But in the process of analyzing the state of affairs it was decided to deploy the system in two stages. At the first stage the fleet will consist of 12 Gonets-M satellites and at the second of 12 Goents-M1 satellites," Bakanov said.
He said that the Gonets system with 12 satellites will be capable of transmitting data in online mode in high latitudes. "In middle latitudes communications will be practically non-stop. Interruptions in the transmission of the signal on the equator will last for about 15 minutes," Bakanov said.
The orbital fleet will be built with an emphasis on near-polar orbits. "With 24 satellites there will be no interruptions in communication in a single spot of the globe," he said.
Gonets Satellite System is the lead organization responsible for Gonets System design launch and operation. Gonets LEO (Low-Earth Orbiting) System is a global data relay system comprising LEO satellites, low-cost gateway stations and a fleet of highly portable subscriber terminals operating in the interests of the state and commercial users.