The German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, are to send two more reconnaissance satellites into space before Christmas, according to a newspaper article from Berlin's Tagesspiegel to be published on Monday, reported dpa.
The satellites "observe the earth not only with a camera, but also with radar – so they can also take pictures at night and see through clouds," the commander of the space command, Michael Traut, told the paper.
This would enable the Bundeswehr to observe relevant events on the Earth's surface much better.
According to the newspaper, Elon Musk's company Space X has scheduled the launch for Friday.
The new satellites are to orbit the earth in low earth orbit, meaning at an altitude of less than 2,000 kilometres.
Traut said the Bundeswehr already has six such satellites in space. It also has two geostationary satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres.
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Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
