February 1982:satellite digest

COSMOS 1285 1981-71A

Launched: 0012, 4 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Molniya design of a cylindrical body, surmounted by a conical motor section, and with power supplied by a "windmill" of six solar panels.Overall length around 4 m, and diameter 1.6 m, mass around 2,000 kg.

Mission: Probably part of the USSR’s system of missile launch early warning satellites.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into a highly elliptical orbit of 587 x 40429 km, 727.56 min, 62.95 degrees inclination.

COSMOS 1286 1981-72A

Launched: 0826, 4 Aug 1981 from Tyuratam by F-1.

Spacecraft data: Probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Probably an ocean surveillance satellite carrying out electronic reconnaissance, replacing Cosmos 1220 (1980-89A).

Orbit: Initially 431 x 444 km, 93.33 mins,65.04 degrees, maintained at this height by a low thrust motor.

FLTSATCOM 5 1981-73A

Launched: 0810, 6 Aug 1981 from Eastern Space and Missile Centre by Atlas Centaur.

Spacecraft data: Built by TRW for the US Department of Defense, FLTSATCOM is a hexagonal cylinder - 1.27 m long and 2.3 m diameter. Power is provided by a two solar panel array giving at least 1250 watts output over the vehicle's design life of 5 years. Communications are through a 3.75 m long helix antenna and a 4.9 m diameter dish operating at UHF frequencies, and an S band horn antenna. Stabilisation is by a combination of momentum wheels and low thrust motors.

The orbiting mass is 1000 kg.

Mission: To provide S band and UHF communication between US military forces through 23 channels, and using relatively small ground equipment.

Orbit: Placed into geostationary transfer orbit by the launch vehicle, injected into geostationary drift orbit by onboard motor and stabilised at 92 degrees west.

COSMOS 1287-1294 1981-74A-H

Launched: 1148, 6 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Probably spheroidal in shape,mass about 40 kg each.

Mission: To provide tactical communications between troops or units in the field.

Orbits: Lowest - 1393 x 1465 km, 114.46 min, 74.03 degrees; highest - 1465 x 1514 km, 115.79 min, 74.03 degrees.

BULGARIA 1300 1981-75A

Launched: 1130, 7 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by A-1.

Spacecraft data: Based on the standard Meteor satellite body, it is a cylinder about 5 m long, 1.5 m maximum diameter, mass around 2 tonnes including over 350 kg of scientific instruments. Power is provided by a two panel, Sun tracking solar array.

Mission: To study the physical processes in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Instruments include photometers for producing spectra and photographs of the aurorae, UV and proton spectrometers, and a laser reflector.

Orbit. 799 x 893 km, 101.90 mins, 81.22 degrees.

HIMAWARI 2 1981-76A

Launched: 2010,10 Aug 1981 from Tanegashima by N-2.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical, spin stabilised vehicle with de-spun antennae and meteorological sensors. Diameter is 2.10 m, length 4.40 m, and the mass about 340 kg.

Mission: To improve the Japanese meteorological service and to develop meteorological satellite technology.

Orbit: Placed into geostationary transfer orbit by the launch vehicle, then to a geostationary drift orbit for final stabilisation above 140 degrees east longitude.

COSMOS 1295 1981-77A

Launched: 0546, 12 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by C-1.

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

Mission: Navigation satellite replacing or providing back up for Cosmos 1181 (1979-39A).

Orbit:950 x 1014 km, 104.77 min, 82.92 degrees.

COSMOS 1296 1981-78A

Launched: 1619, 13 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by A-2.

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

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

Orbit: Initially 171 x 353 km, 89.77 min, 67.14 degrees, then manoeuvred several times to provide coverage of particular target areas.

COSMOS 1297 1981-79A

Launched: 0929, 18 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1296.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered after 12 days.

Orbit: Initially 197 x 363 km, 90.15 min,72.85 degrees, then manoeuvred on the second day to 225 x 304 km, 89.85 min, 72.86 degrees, and on the ninth day to

223 x 247 km, 89.25 min, 72.84 degrees.

COSMOS 1298 1981-80A

Launched: 1020, 21 Aug 1981 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1296.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered after 42 days.

Orbit: Initially, 172 x 330 km, 89.57 min, 64.92 degrees, then manoeuvred several times to provide coverage of particular target areas.

COSMOS 1299 1981-81A

Launched: 1635, 24 Aug 1981 from Tyuratam by F-1.

Spacecraft data: Probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Ocean surveillance by radar, powered by nuclear reactor, terminated on 5 Sep after 12 days.

Orbit: Initially 247 x 266 km, 89.64 min,65.01 degrees, then maintained by low thrust motor. Nuclear reactor boosted to 103 min circular orbit on 5 Sep.

COSMOS 1300 1981-82A

Launched: 2141, 24 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by F-1.

Spacecraft data: Probably a cylinder of 4 m diameter and 2 m length.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance?

Orbit: 636 x 664 km, 97.78 min, 82.50 degrees,similar to the orbits of Cosmos 1076 (1979-11A) and Cosmos 1151 (1980-5A) which were oceanographic study satellites.

COSMOS 1301 1981-83A

Launched: 1030, 27 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1296.

Mission: Possibly military photo-reconnaissance, part or all of the payload was an Earth resources package, recovered after 14 days.

Orbit: Initially 213 x 271km, 89.39 min,82.32 degrees, but manoeuvred to

268 x 276 km, 89.99 min, 82.31 degrees on the second day of the flight.

COSMOS 1302 1981-84A

Launched: 1621, 28 Aug 1981 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: May be similar to Cosmos 1295.

Mission: Military communications using store/dump technique, replacement or backup for Cosmos 1269 (1981-41A).

Orbit: 781 x 810 km, 100.82 min, 74.03 degrees.

OPS 3984 1981-85A

Launched: 1831, 3 Sep 1981 from Western Space and Missile Centre by Titan 3D.

Spacecraft data : Cylinder with antennae and solar panels, mass around 13000 kg, length 15 m and diameter 3 m.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance providing real-time transmission of television images. Replacement for 1978-60A which was de-orbited around 23 Aug 1981. OPS 3984 is one of the KH-11 series of satellites.

Orbit: Sun synchronous, initially 242 x 525 km, 92.27 min, 95.98 degrees -maintained or altered by an onboard engine.

COSMOS 1303 1981-86A

Launched: 0800, 4 Sep 1981 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data : As Cosmos 1296.

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

Orbit: Initially 206 x 375 km, 90.36 min, 70.41 degrees, but manoeuvred on second day to 360 x 415 km, 92.34 min, 70.41 degrees. Orbit maintained by small thrusts to ensure constant spacing between equivalent ground tracks on successive days.

COSMOS 1304 1981-87A

Launched: 1106, 4 Sep 1981 from Pletsetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: May be similar to Cosmos 1295.

Mission: Probably a navigation satellite but may be part of another applications

programme.

Orbit: 911 x 978 km, 103.97 min,89.94 degrees - slightly lower than normal for

a navigation satellite.

COSMOS 1305 1981-88A

Launched: 0840,11 Sep 1981 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body, housing instrumentation and the payload and 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: Replacement or backup for Molniya-3 (12), 1979-48A.

Orbit: 625 x 13864 km, 263.73 min, 62.83 degrees.