The Resurs P2 Soyuz launch. Photo: Roscosmos

[Via Satellite 12-29-2014] The Russian remote sensing spacecraft Resurs P2 launched aboard a Soyuz 2.1b rocket on Dec. 26 2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Earth observation satellite is capable of panchromatic and hyperspectral imaging, and carries equipment for automatic ship identification.

Built by TsSKB-Progress (Samara), the Soyuz 2.1b has an improved third stage engine compared to the Soyuz 2.1a.

Today Russia uses imagery from the Resurs P1 satellite for national economic, social and scientific tasks. The next satellite in the series, Resurs P3, is slated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2015.