The Aist-2D remote sensing satellite has completed its mission in orbit after staying in operation for almost 8 years, Roscosmos said.

"Space assistant Aist-2D: Mission Complete. The satellite worked in orbit for almost 8 years - exceeding the expected lifecycle more than twice!" Roscosmos said.

Aist-29, launched in 2016, has scanned more than 93 million square kilometers. It monitored ruined infrastructure, spotted illegal mines and waste dumps, and tracked fires, eruptions and floods.

"Now RSC Progress specialists are pushing ahead with the project of the stereoscopic Earth remote sensing space system (two smaller Aist-2T sats) to survey the Earth's surface," Roscosmos added.

That Aist-2D will cease to exist this spring was announced last November by Ivan Tkachenko, the director of the Institute of Aviation and Rocket and Space Technology at the S. P. Korolev Samara National Research University.