July-August 1982:satellite digest

COSMOS 1338 1982-11A

Launched: 1110,16 Feb 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

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

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered after 15 days.

Orbit: Initially 200x362 km, 90.18 min, 72.89 degrees; manoeuvred to 357 X414 km, 92.29 min, 72.86 degrees after one day.

COSMOS 1339 1982-12A

Launched- 2203,17 Feb 1982 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data.- Cylindrical body with domed ends, enclosed in drum shaped solar array, with length and diameter both around 2 m. The mass may be around 700 kg.

Mission: Navigation satellite replacing or backing up Cosmos 1092 (1979-30A).

Orbit: 954x1016 km, 104.85 min, 82.91 degrees.

COSMOS 1340 1982-13A

Launched: 0142, 19 Feb 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Meteor satellites with a cylindrical body and two, Sun-seeking solar panels. Length about 5 m, diameter about 1.5 m and mass around 2000 kg.

Mission: Possibly electronic reconnaissance. Normally, satellites of this type fly in one of six orbit planes separated by 60 degrees longitude at the equator. This particular vehicle's orbit plane is 12.5 degrees to the east of that of Cosmos 1206 (1980-69A).

Orbit: 640x690 km, 97 min, 74 degrees.

WESTAR 4 1982-14A

Launched. 0010,26 Feb 1982 from the Eastern Space and Missile Centre. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by Delta 3910.

Spacecraft data. Cylindrical structure covered in solar cells, 2.16 m diameter and 2.74 m high in the stowed position. An extending, cylindrical solar panel which was deployed after launch increased the length to 6.84 m. The satellite is based on the Hughes Aircraft Company’s standard HS 376 vehicle. The last launch of the type was SBS 2 (1981-96A). Westar 4 is spin stabilised with a de-spun antenna array, a technique pioneered by Hughes. The mass is 585 kg.

Mission: Commercial communications for the Western Union Telegraph Company, providing 24 transponder channels.

Orbit: Placed into a geostationary transfer orbit by the launch vehicle, an onboard apogee boost motor was used to alter this to an equatorial drift orbit. Stabilised above 79 degrees west for systems checks, the final location is to be 99 degrees west when in operation.

MOLNIYA-1(53) 1982-15A

Launched: 2010, 26 Feb 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: A cylindrical body housing instrumentation and the payload, surmounted by a conical motor section. Power is provided by a "windmill" of six solar panels. Overall length is 3.6 m, diameter 1.6 m and mass around 1800 kg.

Mission: Replacement or backup for Mo)niya-1(47), 1980-53A. The satellite helps to operate long distance telephone and telegraph communications, and the broadcasting of Central television programmes to Orbita receiving stations in the Soviet far north, Siberia, the Soviet far east and central Asia.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into a highly elliptical one of 476X40747 km,735.46 min, 62.85 degrees.On the 11th orbit this was lowered to 474x39892 km, 718.01 min, 62.87 degrees in order to ensure daily repeats of the ground track.

COSMOS 1341 1982-16A

Launched: 0546, 3 March 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Molniya design (see previous entry) with length about 4 m and mass around 2000 kg.

Mission: Probably part of the USSR’s system of missile early warning satellites, replacing or backing up Cosmos 1247 (1981-16A).

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into an elliptical one of 625 x39252 km, 708.11 min, 62.89 degrees. Later manoeuvred to 630x39684 km, 716.95 min, 62.91 degrees to ensure daily ground track repeats.

INTELSAT 5(F4) 1982-17A

Launched: 0110, 5 Mar 1982 from Launch Complex 36, Eastern Space and Missile Centre, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by Atlas Centaur.

Spacecraft data: Three axis stabilised, box shaped vehicle with a 16 m span solar array. A more detailed description can be found in the entry for INTELSAT 5(F3) - 1981-119A in the May 1982 Satellite Digest.

Mission: Provision of telephone and television communications for the International Tele¬ communications Satellite Organisation.

Orbit: Initially a geostationary transfer orbit before circularisation at the seventh apogee on 7 Mar. After testing, full operation was due during May 1982 from location 63 degrees east.