Spektr

Spektr (Russian: Спектр, meaning spectrum) is a name used in the Russian language for multiple space-related missions and instruments, reflecting a thematic emphasis on spectroscopy and the broad range of observational capabilities. In the Soviet and Russian space program, the Spektr designation has been applied to several spacecraft and experiments designed for scientific observation, space physics, and Earth sciences. The precise configurations and purposes of these early Spektr missions varied, and many were later decommissioned or integrated into broader programs.

The best-known modern examples of Spektr-bearing missions are Spektr-R and Spektr-RG. Spektr-R, launched in 2011 as part of the RadioAstron project, was a space-based radio telescope that carried a 10-meter dish and conducted very long baseline interferometry with ground-based facilities to achieve high angular resolution across the radio spectrum. It operated for several years, contributing important data to extragalactic and galactic radio astronomy.

Spektr-RG, launched in 2019 in collaboration with Germany, is an X-ray observatory designed to perform wide-field surveys of the X-ray sky. It carries two X-ray telescopes and aims to map hot gas in clusters of galaxies, supernova remnants, and other high-energy sources, providing a large-scale view of the X-ray universe.

In addition to these contemporary missions, the Spektr designation has historical use within the Soviet space program for a range of satellites associated with astronomy, Earth science, and reconnaissance. Today, the term remains a recognizable part of Russian space heritage, often associated with spectral instrumentation and observational capabilities.