Belarus and Russia are planning to set up an advanced civilian satellite grouping, Pyotr Vityaz, a spokesman for the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, said on Tuesday, April 9, according to RIA Novosti.

At present, the Belarusian-Russian space grouping consists of a Belarusian spacecraft, BKA, and its Russian counterpart, Kanopus-B, which were launched in July 2012.

They provide satellite imagery with a resolution of 2.1 meters (6.8 feet).

“We are currently discussing with the Russians the possibility of establishing a [satellite] grouping with a resolution of one meter (3.2 feet),” Vityaz said.

Sergei Zolotoi, director of a space firm affiliated with the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, said the existing Belarusian-Russian space grouping will be reinforced with three satellites.

Five to six satellites are needed to ensure continuous monitoring of the Earth’s surface, he added.