The MKA-FKI N2 spacecraft with "RELEC" instrument
On August 5 over 1 GByte of scientific information is already received from the "RELEC" instrument. Sergey Krasnopeev, the engineer of the Control mission center of NILSKT DOSAAF in Kaluga told us about it.
Scientific instrument "RELEC" developed by SINP scientists in collaboration with their colleagues from IKI RAS and NILAKT DOSAAF is mounted onboard small spacecraft for the fundamental research (Russian abbreviation is MKA-FKI N2), which was manufactured by Lavochkin Scientific and Production Association. The MKA-FKI N2 "RELEC" is launched to the orbit from the Baykonur launching site on July 8.
The elements of the spacecraft's orbit are the following: 600 km in perifee, 800 km in apogee, 99 degrees inclination, orbital period is 1 hour 40 minutes.
Scientific instrument "RELEC" is a complex of scientific equipment, consisting of X-ray and gamma-spactrometer, three-directional electron detector, detector of UV and optical flashes, an instrument for optical imaging with high time resolution, low-frequency and radio-frequency analyzers of electromagnetic field and radio-waves.
The "RELEC" equipment (Relativistic ELECtrons) is intended for the studies of high-altitude electric discharges, atmospheric transients, precipitation of relativistic electrons from the Earth's radiation belts.
Currently the scientific inforamation from the "RELEC" instrument is being processed. At the COSPAR press-conference which will be organized on August 8 SINP Director, Professor Mikhail Panasyuk will tell about the first results of the "RELEC" experiment.