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EMKA (Experimental Small Space Apparatus)

On 29 March 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense launched a light-weight Soyuz-2-1v rocket carrying the EMKA (Experimental Small Space Apparatus - Eksperimentalnyi Malyj Kompaktnyj Apparat) satellite, apparently designed to test a new miniature Earth-imaging system. Cosmos-2525 has been described as an experimental imaging satellite EMKA, developed at the VNIIEM corporation. It received international designation 2018-028A and was registered as object 43243.

Initially, the launch was planned for October this year, but then it was postponed twice - first to November, then to December. The offset of the launch schedule was associated with the solution of technical problems with the EMCA. The next transfer is also caused by the need to eliminate the malfunctions that occurred during the checks.

The advantages of the satellite over similar devices were its compactness and low weight. Furthermore, modern technologies enable such devices to observe the Earth even in sub-meter resolution. The main features of the device will be relatively small overall dimensions and weight. The mass of the satellite will be up to several hundred kilograms, that is, several times less than existing satellites of a similar purpose.

The project appears under the designation EMKA - an experimental small spacecraft. The satellite was developed by the VNIIEM corporation in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. It is assumed that the new device will allow the Earth to be photographed with a resolution of less than 1 meter. Due to the small mass of the satellite, the Russian military in the future will be able to deploy a grouping to monitor the entire planet due to only a few missile launches.

Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences Konstantin Sivkov, during a conversation with the "360" TV channel , said that the launched satellite is intended for inspecting specific facilities on the territory of foreign states. Another confirmation of the work on EMCA is the VNIIEM draft contract with the Volga-Dnepr Corporation (a cargo airline engaged in the delivery of space vehicles and other oversized cargo). The agreement provides for the transportation of EMKA from Moscow to the Plesetsk cosmodrome. VNIIEM Corporation specializes in the creation of optical observation satellites.

Satellites for surveying the Earth's surface of the world level with a mass of about 100 kg are capable of creating images with a resolution of up to 0.7 m. This is of great interest to the military, as it allows them to determine the movements of military equipment, vehicles, small infantry formations, and construction of ground fortifications. Recently RCC "Progress" conducted flight tests of the light satellite "Aist-2D" and claims to develop technology for state order. Therefore VNIIEM strives to keep up and develop its system.