[Satellite Today 03-10-09] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) has delivered the first two suites of equipment for the Kanopus-type satellite platforms to VNIIEM in Russia, the company said March 6.
    The equipment has completed two weeks of tests, and work is underway to integrate the equipment into the first two satellites under a joint operation with VNIIEM and SSTL engineers. Equipment for a third Kanopus satellite platform is being manufactured and tested at SSTL’s facilities and will be delivered to the customer later this year,.
    The Russian Space Agency plans to launch a series of Kanopus Earth observation satellites, with the first two due for launch at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010.