November 1982:satellite digest

COSMOS 1556 1982-39A

Launched: 0810, 5 May 1982 from Plesetsk by A-1.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Meteor satellites with a cylindrical body and two Sun-seeking, solar panels. Length around 5 m and diameter around 1.5 m, mass approx 2500 kg.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 632x671 km, 97.79 min, 81.19 deg.

COSMOS 1357-1364 1982-40A-H

Launched: 1800,6 May 1982 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.

Big Bird 1982-41A

Launched; 1845, 11 May 1982 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Western Space and Missile Center by Titan 3D.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder with antennae and solar panels, and containing re-entry capsules for film recovery, length 15 m and diameter 3 m with mass around 13000 kg.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance.

Orbit: Initially 177 x 262 km, 89.91 min, 96.41 deg. manoeuvrable.

SOYUZ T-5 1982-42A

Launched: 0958, 13 May 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Standard Soyuz-T design consistinh of a near-spherical orbital module, conical re entry module and cylindrical instrument unit. Length about 7.5 m, max diameter 2.2 m and mass around 6500 kg.

Mission: Ferry vehicle carrying long stay crew of Anatoly Berezovoi and Valentin Lebedev to Salyut 7 (1982-33A).

Orbit: Initially 192x231 km, 88.66 min, 51.60 deg but altered after 6 hours to a transfer orbit of 269x325 km, 90.40 min, 51.59 deg. After docking with Salyut 7 at 1136 on 14 May the orbit of the complex was 343x356 km, 91.35 min. 51.59 deg.

COSMOS 1365 1982-43A

Launched: 1925, 14 May 1982 from Tyuratam by F-1.

Spacecraft data: not available but probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Military reconnaissance using radar powered by a nuclear reactor.

Orbit: Initially 252X264 km, 89.65 min, 65.00 deg and maintained constantly near that height by an onboard low thrust motor.

ISKRA 2 1982-33C

Launched: 1250, 17 May 1982 from an airlock aboard Salyut 7.

Spacecraft data: Roughly spherical, approx 0.5 m diameter and covered with solar cells,mass 28 kg.

Mission: Amateur radio relay.

Orbit: Initially 342x336 km, 91.27 min, 51.59 deg, decayed after 81 days on 9 July.

COSMOS 1366 1982-44A

Launched: 2345, 17 May 1982 from Tyuratam by D-1-E + apogee motor.

Spacecraft data: Probably similar to the Gorizont satellites, namely a cylinder with a pair of solar panels, one either side. Length around 5 m and max. diameter around 2 m. The mass is around 2000 kg.

Mission: Experimental communications satellite, probably connected with the planned Luch series.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at 51.6 degree inclination and then injected into an elliptical transfer orbit at 47 degree before going into a geostationary drift orbit. Later stabilised above 90 degree east longitude.

COSMOS 1367 1982-45A.

Launched: 1310, 20 May 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Probably similar to the Molniya satellites.

Mission: Part of the USSR's system of missile early warning satellites.

Orbit; Initially a low parking orbit and then injected into a highly elliptical one of 581X39264 km. 707.44 min, 62.86 degrees.

COSMOS 1368 1982-46A

Launched: 1240, 21 May 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

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

Mission; Military photo-reconnaissance.

Orbit: Initially 211x341 km, 90.04 min, 70.57 degree then manoeuvred. Recovered after 14 days.

PROGRESS 15 1982-47A

Launched: 0557, 23 May 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 compartment for stores. Mass 7000 kg.

Mission: To carry supplies to the resident crew of Salyut 7 and to deliver experimental equipment for the planned Soyuz T-6 mission.

Orbit: Initially 191x278 km, 88.9 min, 51.6 degrees then via an intermediate transfer orbit to that of Salyut 7. Docking with the rear unit of Salyut took place at 0846 on 25 May. Progress 13 undocked from Salyut 7 on 4 Jun at 0631, it was de-orbited by a retro rocket firing at 0405 on 6 Jun.

COSMOS 1369 1982-48A

Launched: 0850, 25 May 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: see Cosmos 1368.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the payload was an Earth Resources package, recovered after 14 days.

Orbit: Initially 269 x 276 km, 89.98 Min, 82.31 degrees, then manoeuvred.

COSMOS 1370 1982-49A

Launched: 0910, 28 May 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Probably similar to Cosmos 1368.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered after 44 days.

Orbit: Initially 197x275 km, 89.22 min, 64-85 degrees then manoeuvred several times.

MOLNIYA-1(54) 1982-50A

Launched: 2205, 28 May 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2-e.

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. Length 3.6 m, diameter 1.6 m, mass around 1800 kg.

Mission; Communications satellite helping to operate long distance telephone and telegraphcommunications, 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, then injected into a highly elliptical one of 627x40631km, 736.13 min, 62.83 degrees, later lowered slightly to 718 mins to ensure daily repeats of ground tracks.

COSMOS 1371 1982-51A

Launched: 0435, 1 Jun 1982 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: May be similar to the navigation satellites, i.e. a cylindrical body with domed ends, enclosed in a cylindrical solar array with length and diameter around 2 m. The mass may be around 700 kg.

Mission: military communications using a store dump technique.

COSMOS 1372 1982-52A

Launched: 1355, 2 Jun 1982 from Tyuratam by F-1

Spacecraft data: see Cosmos 1365.

Mission; Military reconnaissance using radar powered by nuclear reactor.

Orbit: Initially 246 X 270 km, 89.65 min, 64.99 degrees and maintained constantly near that height by an onboard low thrust motor.

COSMOS 1373 1982-53A

Launched: 1300, 2 Jun 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1368.

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

Orbit: Initially 210x347 km, 90.08 min, 70.38 degrees then manoeuvred.

COSMOS 1374 1982-54A

Launched: 2125, 3 Jun 1982 from Kapustin Yar by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Speculative, but some western reports suggest a delta winged re-entry vehicle attached to a retro-rocket, mass around 1000 kg.

Mission: Re-entry test, the craft was recovered in or over water at the end of one orbit.

Orbit: 225x225 km, 50.66 degrees.

COSMOS 1375 1982-55A

Launched: 1705, 6 Jun 1981 from Plesetsk by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Target for interception test.

Orbit: 981x1011km, 105.02 min, 65.84 degrees.

COSMOS 1376 1982-56A

Launched: 0800, 8 Jun 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: See Cosmos 1368.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the payload was an Earth Resources package. Orbit: Initially 261X274 km, 89.88 min, 82.34 degrees then manoeuvred. Recovered after 14 days.

COSMOS 1377 1982-57A

Launched: 1200, 8 Jun 1982 from Tyuratam by A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly as Cosmos 1368.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, recovered or re-entered after six weeks.

Orbit: Initially 173x363 km, 89.86 min, 64.90 degrees then manoeuvred several times.

WESTAR 5 1982-58A

Launched: 0756, 9 Jun 1982 from Eastern Space and Missile Center.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder, approx 3 m long, 2 m diameter.

Mission: Communications satellite.

Orbit: Geostationary.

COSMOS 1378 1982-59A

Launched: 1100, 10 Jun 1982 from Plesetsk by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 634 X 663 km, 97.72 min, 82.51 degrees.