May 1983:satellite digest

GORIZONT 6 1982-103A

Launched: 1635, 20 Oct 1982 from Tyuratam by D-1-E + apogee motor.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder with a pair of solar panels, an array of aerial horns and reflec¬ tors is located at the Earth pointing end of the satellite, which is three axis stabilised. Length is about 5 m, and max. diameter about 2 m, the mass is around 2000 kg.

Mission: To provide telephone, telegraph and television relay links through the "Moscow" system both within and outside the USSR.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at 51.6 degrees inclination, then transferred to an elliptical parking orbit at 47 degrees prior to injection into a geostationary drift orbit before eventual stabilisation, apparently at 90 degrees east longitude (Statsionar 67).

COSMOS 1418 1982-104A

Launched: 1410, 21 Oct 1982 from Kapustin Yar by C-1.

Spacecraft data: not available.

Mission: possibly radar calibration.

Orbit: 370X414 km, 50.67 degrees, 92.33 min.

RCA SATCOM 5 1982-105A

Launched: 1120, 28 Oct 1982 from Eastern Space and Missile Center by Delta 3924.

Spacecraft data: Box-shaped body approx. 1.4X1.6X1.8m, with solar panels, mass approx 600 kg.

Mission: US domestic and international communications.

Orbit: Geostationary.

DSCS 15 & DSCS 16 1982-106A&B.

Launched: 2025, 30 Oct 1982 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by Titan 34D.

Spacecraft data: not available.

Mission: Missile Early Warning satellites.

Orbit: Geostationary.

PROGRESS 16 1982-107A

Launched: 1120, 31 Oct 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Similar in appearance to Soyuz-T except that the re-entry module is replaced by a cone shaped non-recoverable section for stores.

Mission: To carry consumables and experimental materials to the logg-stay crew aboard Salyut 7. Progress docked with Salyut's rear port at 1322, 2 Nov 1982. It undocked 13 Dec and was later commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

Orbit: Initially 186X245 km, 88.75 min, 51.62 degrees, then transferred to 289 X 354 km, 90.91 min, 51.63 degrees. After docking with Salyut. the orbit was 353X362 km, 91.64 min, 51.62 degrees.

COSMOS 1419 1982-108A

Launched: 0930, 2 Nov 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Vostok manned spacecraft with spherical reentry module, instrument unit and a cylindrical supplementary payload at the forward end. Length about 6 m, max. diameter 2.4 m, mass around 6000 kg.

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

Orbit: 228X285 km, 89.64 min. 70.34 degrees, manoeuvrable.

COSMOS 1420 1982-109A

Launched: 0615, 8 Nov 1982 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available, but may be similar to the Cosmos navigation satellites, ie a cylindrical body with domed ends, enclosed in a cylindrical solar array with length and diameter both about 2 m, mass around 700 kg.

Mission: Military communications using a store /dump technique.

Orbit: 780 X 810 km. 100.80 mins, 73.99 degrees.

STS-5 1982-110A

Launched: 1219, 11 Nov 1982 from Launch Complex 39. Kennedy Space Center.

Spacecraft data: Re-usable shuttle Columbia.

Mission: First operational flight of the Space Transportation System, involving the deployment of two satellites and attached rocket motors for transfer to geostationary orbit. The crew consisted of Vance Brand, Robert Overmeyer, Joseph Allen and William Lenoir, the first launch of a four man crew. Columbia landed on the concrete runway at Edwards AFB, California at 1433 on 16 Nov 1982.

Orbit: 294 X 317 km. 90.49 min. 28.47 degrees.

SBS 3 1982-110B

Launched: 2017, 11 Nov 1982 from the payload bay of Columbia.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder. 6m long, 2m dia, mass about 580 kg.

Mission: Business communications.

Orbit: The first motor firing after leaving the Orbiter resulted in an elliptical, geostationary transfer orbit, a later motor firing circularised it near geostationary altitude before the satellite drifted to its operational location of 94 degrees west.

TELESAT 6 1982-110Cm

Launched: 2024, 12 Nov 1982 from the payload bay of Columbia.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder, 2m long, 1.5m dia, mass about 2,100 kg (fuelled).

Mission: Canadian government communications satellite.

Orbit: The first motor firing after leaving the Orbiter resulted in an elliptical, geostationary transfer orbit, a later motor firing resulting in a near circular geostationary drift orbit before final positioning above 112.5 degrees west.

OPS 9627 1982-111A

Launched: 2130. 17 Nov 1982 from Vandenberg AFB by Titan 3D.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder, length about 15m, diameter 3m, mass about 13,000 kg.

Mission: KH-11 type satellite providing reconnaissance pictures via a TV transmission system.

Orbit: 281X518 km. 92.61 min, 96.97 degrees.

COSMOS 1421 1982-112A

Launched: 0930, 18 Nov 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

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

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

Orbit: 230 X 280 km. 89.62 min, 70.34 degrees, manoeuvrable.

ISKRA 3 1982-33AD

Launched: 18 Nov 1982 from Salyut 7.

Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Experimental amateur radio relay.

Orbit: 350 X 365 km, 91.5 min, 51.6 deg.

RADUGA 11 1982-113A

Launched: 1430, 26 Nov 1982 from Tyuratam by D-1-E.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder with a pair of solar panels, and an aerial array at one end. Length about 5m. diameter (max) about 2m and mass around 2,000 kg.

Mission: To provide round-the-clock radio and telegraphic communications in the UHF band and to relay Central Television programmes to stations of the "Orbita" network.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at

51.6 degrees, then to an elliptical transfer orbit at 47 degrees prior to injection into a geostationary drift orbit before final stabilisation at 35 degrees east.

COSMOS 1422 1982-114A

Launched: 1200, 3 Dec 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1421.

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

Orbit: 228 X 288 km. 89.68 min, 72.85 degrees manoeuvrable.

COSMOS 1423 1982-115A

Launched: 1400, 8 Dec 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Similar to the Molniya satellites.

Mission: Molniya-1 type communications satellite, the final rocket stage appears to have exploded on ignition.

Orbit: (largest fragment) 231 X 425 km, 93.78 min, 62.83 degrees.

METEOR 2(9) 1982-116A

Launched: 2230, 14 Dec 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body with two, Sun-seeking solar panels, length about 5m. diameter about 1.5m and mass around 2,200 kg.

Mission: Return of meteorological data and scanning radiometer images of cloud cover and Earth’s surface.

Orbit: 810X 859 km, 102.00 min, 81.25 degrees.