http://en.rian.ru/science/20070828/75341002.html
*Russia to launch Arctic space monitoring program* MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian space agency will implement a project over the next several years to monitor the Arctic region's climate using satellites, the agency's head said Tuesday. The program, which will be undertaken in cooperation with foreign partners, will measure the effects of climate change and global warming. "We are going to build and place in a high-elliptical orbit up to six spacecraft that will provide not only uninterrupted monitoring of the Arctic atmosphere, but also communication for long-range aviation needed for Russia's strategic security," Anatoly Perminov said in an interview on the Mayak radio station. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
