It was launched 26 August 2005 at 18:34 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, and placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit of 524 by 544 km (326 by 338 mi).

They were intended to make maps of the Earth's surface to be used for ecological monitoring and charting geological features.

It was built by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center.

A mock-up of Monitor-E (COSPAR 2003-031A) was launched 30 June 2003 aboard Rokot rocket.

Sensors Onboard storage Data communications Orbit Spacecraft After launch, communications with Monitor-E was initially difficult to establish, but a few hours later it was successfully contacted and control was established.