Russia is planning to launch their Arktika-M satellite at the end of the year, according to Vladimir Kolmykov, the General Director of the Lavochkin aerospace firm.

The Arktika-M remote-sensing and emergency communications satellites is designed to gather meteorological data in the polar regions, which will allow for improved weather forecasts and enable scientists to better study climate change. The satellite was initially scheduled to launch in 2019.

Earlier reports said that the Arktika-M satellite launch from the Baikonur space center is planned for December 9, 2020 and will be launched using a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat booster. The company itself has yet to confirm that date.

Kolmykov was quoted as saying, adding that the second Arktika-M satellite is still under development and will be launched in 2023.