February 1983:satellite digest

TELESAT 5 1982-82A

Launched: 2310, 26 Aug 1982 from Eastern Space and Missile Center by Delta 3920.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical construction based on the Hughes HS 376 standard satellite body, length 6.7 m, diameter approx. 2 m and mass around 1200 kg.

Mission: Canadian domestic communications satellite.

Orbit: Geostationary, located above 104 deg west longitude.

MOLNIYA-3(19) 1982-83A

Launched: 0030, 27 Aug 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body housing instrumentation and the payload is surmounted by a conical motor section. Power is provided by a "windmill '' of six solar panels. Length is about 4 m, diameter 1.6 m and the mass around 2000 kg.

Mission: The satellite provides telephone and telegraphic communications and transmits Central Television programmes to "Orbita" ground stations in the USSR and other countries.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into a highly elliptical orbit of 457 X 40,823 km, 736.60 min. 62.87 deg. Later manoeuvred to approx. 450 X 39,500 km, 718 min to ensure daily repetition of ground tracks.

COSMOS 1402 1982-84A

Launched: 0430. 1 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam by F-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available but probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Military reconnaissance using radar.

Orbit: Initially 251 X 264 km, 89.65 min, 65.00 deg and maintained constantly near that height by the use of a low thrust motor.

COSMOS 1403 1982-85A

Launched: 0910, 1 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the 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) 2.4 m and mass around 6000 kg.

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

Orbit: 354 X 416 km. 92.26 min. 70.38 deg.

COSMOS 1404 1982-86A

Launched: 1255, 2 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1403.

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

Orbit: 358 X414 km. 92.30 min. 72.85 deg, manoeuvrable.

KIKU 4 1982-87A

Launched: about 2125, 3 Sep 1982 from Tanegashima Space Centre by N-1.

Spacecraft data: Box-shaped body with solar panels, 0.85 X 0.85 X 2.1 m deep and with 6 m span. The satellite is 3 axis stabilised using reaction wheels. The mass is 385 kg.

Mission: A series of technical experiments connected with operation of the satellite itself and the development of future spacecraft systems. Of particular interest are the attitude control system, the deployment and operation of the solar array, and the efficiency of the thermal control system. The experiments package includes a vidicon camera for Earth images, an ion engine, an active thermal control system and a magnetic attitude control system.

Orbit: 965 X 1228 km. 107.10 min. 44.62 deg.

COSMOS 1405 1982-88A

Launched: 1745, 4 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam by F-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available but probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Probably an ocean surveillance satellite carrying out electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 430 X 444 km, 93.30 min, 65.02 deg.

COSMOS 1406 1982-89A

Launched: 1020, 8 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk, possibly by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1403.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the payload was an Earth resources package, recovered after 13 days.

Orbit: 212 X 220 km. 88.81 min, 82.30 deg.

CHINA 10 1982-90A

Launched: 0730, 9 Sep 1982 from Shuang Cheng Tse by Long March 2.

Spacecraft data: Not available, but probably 2-3 tonnes in mass.

Mission: Satellite development, including recovery techniques. Part of the satellite was recovered after 4 days.

Orbit: 175 X 384 km, 90.08 min. 62.98 deg.

COSMOS 1407 1982-91A

Launched: 1530, 14 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly similar to Cosmos 1403.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance,recovered or re-entered after 30 days.

Orbit: 174 X 340 km. 89.64 min. 67.15 deg.

COSMOS 1408 1982-92A

Launched: 0505, 16 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 635 X 669 km, 97.78 min, 82.57 deg.

EKRAN 9 1982-93A

Launched: 1845, 16 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam by D-1-E + apogee motor.

Spacecraft data: A cylinder with a pair of boom-mounted solar panels and a transmitting array. Length 5 m, diameter 2 m and mass around 2000 kg.

Mission: To transmit programmes of Central Television to collective receiving stations in remote areas.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at 51.6 deg inclination, then transferred to an elliptical orbit at 47 deg inclination, followed by circularisation into a geostationary drift orbit before stabilisation above 99 deg east longitude (Statsionar 14).