The Resurs-F2 (17F42) was a series of the Soviet film-return earth observation satellite family.
The Resurs-F2 satellites were based on the Resurs-F1 series and the Zenit-4 reconnaisance satellites. They featured a Zenit/Vostok type 2.3 m spherical reentry capsule, which housed the cameras and film, a service module and a orbital maneuvering module. For a longer life time, it featured solar arrays on the orbital maneuvering module, allowing for 30 days of operations.
The SA-M imaging system consisted of four MK-4 cameras, thus offering the high resolution of the SA-20M with the multi-spectral capability of the SA-34.
The MK-4 cameras can survey the Earth using a set of four cameras in six spectral channels. It has a ground swath of 150 km with a resolution of 5-8 m in six spectral bands from 0.40 micrometer to 0.86 micrometer. Also, 5 to 8 m resolution stereo imaging is possible with a swath width of 120 to 270 km. On one mission 2700 photographs with image motion compensation and frames 180 mm by 180 mm could be acquired.
The SA-M system was also linked to the SA-3R stellar indexing camera for exact geolocation.
All film frames of both systems were marked with codes to record camera parameters, including camera and frame number, film number, focal length, and timing codes.
Ten Resurs-F2 missions were flown with an eleventh apparently being cancelled.
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