The 2500 kg (5510 lbm) Meteor 3M satellite was built by Elektromekhanika Research Institute (VNIIEM), Istra, and is designed for three years of service. Meteor 3M-N1 carries nine scientific instruments to provide various meteorological observations and images. Weather observations will include both visible and infrared images of the surface and clouds, cloud-top height maps, sea surface temperature measurements, and temperature and humidity profiles. The spacecraft will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at 1018 km (550 nmi) with an inclination of 99.64 degrees.