Russian meteorological satellite group collapsed
Did the weather forecast fail again? In Russia, it is customary to blame meteorologists for incorrect predictions. But did you know that our country may well remain completely without the ability to predict the weather?
For long-term forecasting with a weekly horizon, meteorologists need information from special satellites: photographs of cloudy fields, infrared maps of the water surface and land. Based on the data obtained using mathematical calculations, global models of the Earth’s atmosphere are formed. This information is necessary not only in the sphere of the national economy, but also for the military, who previously independently launched their own meteorological satellites, but subsequently this practice was discontinued.
In Soviet times, everyone understood this very well. The space industry of the USSR created a developed group of meteorological satellites called Meteors. She was one of the best in the world. Then in the Soviet Union they still knew how to independently build satellites, so the group was regularly updated.
In the modern Russian Federation, in spite of the general “rising from its knees”, meteorology is in decline. Some time ago, representatives of the space industry recognized that we could no longer do satellites on our own. In reality, today Russia has only three special weather satellites, the equipment of which is only partially operational, said in an interview RIA News Head of Roshydromed Maxim Yakovenko. The rest are not suitable for weather forecasting. As a result, the domestic group from orbit gives the Hydrometeorological Center about 5-6% of the necessary data.
Where do the rest come from? The answer will be unpleasant for a patriotic reader who sincerely believes in the revival of Russian space. Since our country is a member of the World Meteorological Organization, our weather forecasts are based on information received from 35 foreign satellites, which also fly over our country. Due to the lack of consistency in these data, forecasting is often very inaccurate.
By the way, there are no guarantees that Russia will not be disconnected from the international meteorological system as another sanction in the future. Then we will determine the weather in old-fashioned ways by aches in the joints. Ivan Moiseev, Head of the Space Institute, speaks about the extremely deplorable situation in our space industry. policy:
In his message to the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin announced the need to multiply our satellite constellation. But the reality is that a new satellite is being built for about 5 years - if you create it very quickly, and 10 - if it's just fast. And in the development program until 2025, no funding is provided for a multiple increase in the grouping. So far, Roskosmos has devoted all its forces to the lunar base and other urgent needs.
It got to the point that Maxim Yakovenko, the head of Roshydromet, is trying to engage private companies in order to start launching microsatellites:
Experts believe that the head of Roshydromet is a gesture of despair, since he no longer expects assistance from Roskosmos. However, it is hardly worth counting on the selfless help of some private sponsors. Investments will be required cosmic in every sense. Meanwhile, Russia may soon fall down in the international ranking on the quality and accuracy of weather forecasts.
For long-term forecasting with a weekly horizon, meteorologists need information from special satellites: photographs of cloudy fields, infrared maps of the water surface and land. Based on the data obtained using mathematical calculations, global models of the Earth’s atmosphere are formed. This information is necessary not only in the sphere of the national economy, but also for the military, who previously independently launched their own meteorological satellites, but subsequently this practice was discontinued.
In Soviet times, everyone understood this very well. The space industry of the USSR created a developed group of meteorological satellites called Meteors. She was one of the best in the world. Then in the Soviet Union they still knew how to independently build satellites, so the group was regularly updated.
In the modern Russian Federation, in spite of the general “rising from its knees”, meteorology is in decline. Some time ago, representatives of the space industry recognized that we could no longer do satellites on our own. In reality, today Russia has only three special weather satellites, the equipment of which is only partially operational, said in an interview RIA News Head of Roshydromed Maxim Yakovenko. The rest are not suitable for weather forecasting. As a result, the domestic group from orbit gives the Hydrometeorological Center about 5-6% of the necessary data.
Where do the rest come from? The answer will be unpleasant for a patriotic reader who sincerely believes in the revival of Russian space. Since our country is a member of the World Meteorological Organization, our weather forecasts are based on information received from 35 foreign satellites, which also fly over our country. Due to the lack of consistency in these data, forecasting is often very inaccurate.
By the way, there are no guarantees that Russia will not be disconnected from the international meteorological system as another sanction in the future. Then we will determine the weather in old-fashioned ways by aches in the joints. Ivan Moiseev, Head of the Space Institute, speaks about the extremely deplorable situation in our space industry. policy:
The general condition of our space industry is deteriorating, and faster every year. Most of this deterioration information is not published. Not because it is secret, but simply not published. But instead, we constantly see messages about a bright future.
In his message to the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin announced the need to multiply our satellite constellation. But the reality is that a new satellite is being built for about 5 years - if you create it very quickly, and 10 - if it's just fast. And in the development program until 2025, no funding is provided for a multiple increase in the grouping. So far, Roskosmos has devoted all its forces to the lunar base and other urgent needs.
It got to the point that Maxim Yakovenko, the head of Roshydromet, is trying to engage private companies in order to start launching microsatellites:
A kind of symbiosis: our rockets and the meteorological part, and their equipment, for example, broadband Internet. There are Russian companies offering their satellite platform. Now we need to link all this with partners on intelligible terms.
Experts believe that the head of Roshydromet is a gesture of despair, since he no longer expects assistance from Roskosmos. However, it is hardly worth counting on the selfless help of some private sponsors. Investments will be required cosmic in every sense. Meanwhile, Russia may soon fall down in the international ranking on the quality and accuracy of weather forecasts.
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- https://go-travels.com
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