March 1980:satellite digest

Molniya-1 (45)

1979 Oct 20.29

Cylinder-cone: 4.2 long, 1.6 dia

618

40624

62.82

735.83

Plesetsk

1979-91A

12 years

A-2-e

USSR/USSR (1)

Cosmos 1142

1979 Oct 22.52

Cylinder: 6 long, 3 dia

197

381

72.87

90.33

Plesetsk

1979-92A

13 days (R)

1979 Nov 4

A-2

USSR/USSR (2)

Cosmos 1143

1979 Oct 26.76

Cylinder + panels: 6 long, 2 dia

Plesetsk

1979-93A

60 years

622

645

81.25

97.44

A-1

USSR/USSR (3)

Magsat

1979 Oct 30.59

Octagonal prism + panels + boom: 1.65 long, 1 dia

WTR

1979-94A

6 months

354

561

96.80

93.80

Scout G

NASA/NASA (4)

Meteor 2 (5)

1979 Oct 31.40

Cylinder + 2 panels: 5 long, 2 dia

Plesetsk

1979-95A

500 years

872

889

81.21

102.63

A-2

USSR/USSR (5)

Intercosmos 20

1979 Nov 1.33

Octagonal ellipsoid: 3 long, 2 dia

Plesetsk

1979-96A

18 months

465

510

74.03

94.40

C-1

USSR/USSR (6)

Cosmos 1144

1979 Nov 2.67

Cylinder-sphere: 6 long, 4 dia

Plesetsk

1979-97A

167

357

67.15

89.78

A-2

USSR/USSR (7)

Supplementary notes:

(1) USSR domestic communications satellite. Orbital data are at 1979 Oct 23.4 and Nov 3.4.

(2) Orbital data are at 1979 Oct 22.5 and Oct 23.7.

(3) Military satellite, possibly an electronic ferret.

(4) NASA scientific satellite, designed to measure the near-Earth magnetic field and crustal anomalies. The satellite is intended to operate for a minimum of 4 months, but natural decay will likely occur after six. The spacecraft flight hardware was left over from the Small Astronomical Satellite (1975-37A).

(5) Fifth of the USSR’s second generation meteorological satellites, returning cloud cover photographs and meteorological measurements.

(6) Eastern bloc co-operative launch of a scientific satellite.

(7) Manoeuvrable reconnaissance satellite.