Status
Success
Cosmos 2441
Sat Jul 26, 2008 18:31 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
Cosmos 2441
The Persona (reportedly also named Kvarts) satellite is reportedly a new electro-optical reconnaissance satellite.
Persona features a LOMO-built optical system called 17V321 developed from the system used on the Araks-N (Arkon) satellite. The imaging payload was based on one originally designed for the Sapfir-V high orbit imaging satellite project, which featured an 1.5 m primary mirror. After Sapfir-V was cancelled, components for three payloads were transferred to Persona.
The imaging payload is mounted to a TsSKB Progress built Resurs-DK1/Yantar-derived or to a new service module. An illustration published in a Russian military document in context of the Persona satellite shows a satellite with a new service module and cruciform solar arrays, although it is not confirmed, that it in fact shows Persona.