Russia may increase the grouping of infrared satellites for monitoring fires and emergencies

One Canopus V-IK satellite, launched in July 2017, is currently in orbit. He is in a grouping of

five simple "Canopus" without an infrared telescope.

According to Leonid Makridenko, general director of VNIIEM,An increase in the number of satellites in orbit will allow not only to monitor fires and other natural emergencies in Russia, but also to map and discover new areas of gas and oil fields.

The development of a group of up to six spacecraft will allow for global coverage and detection of fires in an area of ​​up to 5 to 5 m.

Leonid Makridenko, General Director of VNIIEM

Earlier, SpaceX head Ilon Musk showed 60 first InternetX satellites - Starlink, designed to create a global Internet provider across the planet.