May 1980:satellite digest

Soyuz-T (1)

1979-103A

1979 Dec 16.520

Sphere-cone-cylinder: 7.5 long, 2.2 dia

340

344

51.62

91.33

Expected 3 months

Tyuratam

A-2

USSR/USSR (1)

CAT

1979-104A

1979 Dec 24.718

10 years

Cylinder: 1 dia

202

36000

17.55

633.5

Kourou

Ariane

ESA/ESA (2)

Gorizont 3

1979-105A

1979 Dec 28.44

indefinite

Cylinder+2 panels: 5 long, 2 dia

36290

36333

0.80

1462.9

Tyuratam

D-1-E

USSR/USSR (3)

Cosmos 1148

1979-106A

1979 Dec 28.54

Cylinder+sphere: 6 long, 3 dia

173

342

67.14

89.68

Plesetsk

A-2

USSR/USSR (4)

Supplementary notes:

(1) Test flight of recoverable transport ship for use with orbiting laboratories. Soyuz-T docked with Salyut 6 about 1979 Dec 19.6. Previous tests of Soyuz-T systems were carried out by Cosmos 1001 and Cosmos 1074. Orbital data are at 1979 Dec 16.6, Dec 16.9, Dec 18.9, Dec 20.5,and Dec 25.8.

(2) First test flight of European Ariane launcher. CAT stands for "Capsule Ariane Technologique” and carries test instrumentation.

(3) USSR communications satellite intended to carry TV relays from the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow. The satellite’s location is above 58° east longitude (Statsionar-5)

(4) Long life, manoeuvrable reconnaissance satellite.