Far Eastern scientific research centre of space hydrometeorology 'Planet'

The Far Eastern scientific research centre of space hydrometeorology 'Planet' is a Russian research institution focused on the study and application of satellite‑based hydrometeorological data. It conducts scientific research that integrates remote sensing observations with hydrological and atmospheric models to improve weather, climate and water‑resource monitoring. The centre provides data products, analytical services and technical support to Russian governmental agencies that rely on accurate hydrometeorological information. Its work supports forecasting systems used for civil aviation, agriculture, emergency management and environmental protection. By specialising in the space dimension of hydrometeorology, the organisation fills a niche between pure meteorology and satellite geophysics.

The centre’s operational scale is reflected in the infrastructure compromised during a 2024 cyberattack, which destroyed 280 servers and erased approximately two petabytes of stored satellite data, indicating a substantial data archive and computing capacity. This incident also disrupted military satellite services for over fifty Russian state entities, showing that the centre’s outputs are used across a broad spectrum of defence and civilian organisations. Its distinguishing attributes include a dedicated focus on space hydrometeorology, the integration of satellite observations with hydrological modelling, and a role that bridges scientific research with operational service provision. The organisation is positioned as a key supplier of satellite‑derived hydrometeorological information within Russia’s national hydrometeorological service structure. No explicit details about its ownership or parent‑company relationships are available in the provided sources.