January 1983:satellite digest

COSMOS 1388-1395 1982-73A-H

Launched: 0630, 21 Jul 1982 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Probably spheroidal in shape, around 1 m long, 0.8 m diameter, mass around 40 kg each.

Mission: To provide tactical communications between troops or units in the field.

Orbits: 1,395X1,476 km, 114.58 min, 74.02 degrees (lowest) and 1,476 X 1,517 km, 115.92 min, 74.01 degrees (highest).

MOLNIYA-1 (55) 1982-74A

Launched: 0950, 21 Jul 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body housing instrument and the payload, surmounted by a conical motor section. Power is provided by a “windmill” of six solar panels. Overall length is 4.2 m, diameter 1.6 m and mass about 1,800 kg.

Mission: The satellite helps to operate long distance telephone and telegraphic commu¬ nications and broadcast Central Television programmes via the Orbita system to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into a highly elliptical one of 617X 38,917 km, 707.19 min, 62.93 degrees. Later manoeuvred to 603x39,750 km, 717.74 min, 63.07 degrees to ensure daily repetition of ground tracks.

COSMOS 1396 1982-75A

Launched: 1230, 27 Jul 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on Vostok manned spacecraft with spherical re-entry module, instrument unit and a cylindrical,supplementary payload at the forward end. Length about 6 m, diameter (max) about 2.4 m and mass around 6,000 kg.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered after 14 days.

Orbit: Initially 198 x 298 km, 89.47 min, 72.86 degrees then manoeuvred.

COSMOS 1397 1982-76A

Launched: 1940, 29 Jul 1982 from Kapustin Yar by C-1. Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Possibly radar calibration.

Orbit: 343x541 km, 93.38 min, 50.69 degrees.

COSMOS 1398 1982-77A

Launched: 1130, 3 Aug 1982 from Plesetsk, possibly by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1396.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the payload was an Earth resources package, recovered after 10 days.

Orbit: 216X234 km, 89.02 min, 82.35 degrees.

COSMOS 1399 1982-78A

Launched: 1130, 4 Aug 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly similar to Cosmos 1396.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance,

recovered or re-entered after 43 days.

Orbit: Initially 170x345 km, 89.65 min, 64.90 degrees then manoeuvred several times.

COSMOS 1400 1982-79A

Launched: 0700, 5 Aug 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Meteor satellite body with a cylinder carrying two Sun-seeking solar panels. Length about 5 m, diameter about 1.5 m and mass around 2,000 kg.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 630X654 km, 97.57 min, 81.16 degrees.

SOYUZ T-7 1982-80A

Launched: 1712,19 Aug 1982 from Tyuratam

by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Standard Soyuz-T design consisting of a near-spherical orbital compartment, conical reentry module and cylindrical instrument unit. Length about 7.5 m, max diameter 2.2 m and mass around 6,500 kg.

Mission: Replacement ferry vehicle for resident crew of Salyut 7. The Soyuz T-7 crew of Leonid Popov, Alexander Serebrov and Svetlana Savitskaya (the second woman cosmonaut) returned to Earth in Soyuz T-5,landing at approx 1500, 27 Aug 1982.

Orbit: Initially 228x 280 km, 89.5 min, 51.6 degrees then manoeuvred to the Salyut operating height of 289x 299 km, 90.34 min, 51.63 degrees before docking on 20 Aug.

COSMOS 1401 1982-81A

Launched: 0950, 20 Aug 1982 from Plesetsk, possibly by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1396.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the payload was an Earth resources package, recovered after 14 days.

Orbit: 261X274 km, 89.8 min, 82.33 degrees.