Friday, June 30, 1995

Kosmos 889

 1977-003A


Low res photo recon satellite. PDM telemetry, extended duration.


Kosmos-889 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1977 Jan 20  0830 Launch by Soyuz-U  Baikonur 
 0834  Blok-I burn 
 0838  Blok-I sep 
1977 Jan 21    89.81 201 x 328 x 71.4 
1977 Feb 1    89.71 199 x 320 x 71.4 
1977 Feb 1   
 0610?  Deorbit 
 0620? PO sep 
 0626? Entry 
 0640? Landed 

Tuesday, June 27, 1995

CD-ROM Professional: September-October 1994

 https://welib.org/md5/b8568655ab51fe361646db49d2e8e1d9

Teen: February 1995

 https://welib.org/md5/4a493a753e8ca4fe73ebe4ac6577a129

Kosmos 1901

 1987-102A



Kosmos-1901 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1987 Dec 14  1129 Launch by Soyuz  KB 
 1133? Blok-A sep 
 1138? Blok-I sep 
1987 Dec 14    89.79 174 x 353 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 18    89.58 171 x 336 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 20    89.47 169 x 327 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 21   
89.55 174 x 330 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 25    89.28 169 x 308 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 26   
89.39 170 x 318 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 29    89.17 167 x 299 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 30   
89.73 174 x 347 x 64.9 
1987 Dec 31   SpK-1 fiducial 
1988 Jan 5    89.39 169 x 319 x 64.9 
1988 Jan 12    89.45 167 x 326 x 64.9 
1988 Jan 13   
90.14 171 x 391 x 64.9 
1988 Jan 16   SpK-2 fiducial 
1988 Jan 20    89.04 166 x 287 x 64.9 
1988 Jan 21   
89.58 168 x 339 x 64.9 
1988 Jan 24    89.33 165 x 316 x 64.9 
1988 Feb 1  89.17 168 x 298 x 64.9 
1988 Feb 3  
 2037?  Deorbit 
 2054?  Entry 
 2103?  Landed

Friday, June 23, 1995

Resurs 42

 1989-055A


Resurs F-1 14F43 No. 47 was launched on 1989 Jul 18 and announced as the third Resurs F. It carried out a 22 day extended duration flight and released two Pion subsatellites.


Resurs F-1 14F43 No. 47 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1989 Jul 18  0945  Launch by Soyuz-U  PL LC16 
 0953  Blok-I sep  88.57 183 x 223 x 82.6 
1989 Jul 19    88.6 182 x 225 x 82.5 
  Orbit raise  89.86 260 x 274 x 82.6 
1989 Jul 24    89.82 258 x 272 x 82.6 
1989 Jul 26    89.80 257 x 271 x 82.6 
  Orbit trim  89.86 260 x 275 x 82.6 
1989 Jul 31    89.84 258 x 273 x 82.6 
1989 Aug 1  1700 Orbit trim  89.86 259 x 275 x 82.6 
1989 Aug 52200   89.78 255 x 272 x 82.6 
1989 Aug 7   Pion-3 released 
  Pion-4 released 
1989 Aug 9  
 0528?  Deorbit 
 0536? PO sep 
 0545?  Entry 
 0607?  Landed 

Kosmos 769

  1975-088A


Kosmos-769 flew a 12 day mission and carried an FEU-170 SpK recovery capsule test.


Kosmos-769 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1975 Sep 23  1000 Launch by Soyuz-U  Plesetsk 
 1004  Blok-I burn 
 1008  Blok-I sep 
1975 Sep 23    89.59 202 x 305 x 72.8 
1975 Oct 1   FEU-170 sep 
 0558?  Deorbit 
 0608? Entry 
 0620?  Landed 
1975 Oct 4    89.50 200 x 298 x 72.8 
1975 Oct 5   
 0353?  Deorbit 
 0403? PO sep 
 0410? Entry 
 0422? Landed 

Tuesday, June 20, 1995

Kosmos 308

 1969-096A


Kosmos-308 was the last of the low apogee subgroup of DS-P1-I missions. 


Kosmos-308 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1969 Nov 4  1200 Launch by 11K63  PL 
 1202 Stage 2 burn 
 1207 Stage 2 sep 
1969 Nov 5  0500   91.34 271 x 408 x 71.02 
1969 Dec 6  2025? Stage 2 reentered 
1970 Jan 4  1144?  Reentered 

Kosmos 611

 1973-094A


DS-P1-Yu No. 64 was launched in Nov 1973, the second such launch in a week.


Kosmos-611 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1973 Nov 28  0930  Launch by 11K63  NIIP-53 LC133/1 
 0932  Stage 2 burn 
 0936? Stage 2 sep 
   92.1 270 x 481 x 71.0 
1974 Apr? End of ops 
1974 Jun 19   Reentered 

Explorer 49

  1973-039A


Because of the problem of terrestrial radio interference, the second RAE, RAE B, was designed to make its observations in lunar orbit, shielded from Earth while it skimmed above the lunar farside. The spacecraft had a velocity control thruster to refine the lunar orbit.

RAE 2 (Explorer 49) was launched at 1413 on 1973 Jun 10 by a Delta 1913 from Cape Kennedy. The Delta stage ignited at 1417:30 and cut off at 1422:30 to place the combination in parking orbit. At 1425 the Delta reignited for 29s to enter a 107.8 min, 182 x 2074 km x 29.3 deg orbit. At 1428 the Star 37D third stage ignited for the 44s translunar injection burn, entering a 182 x 390244 km x 29.1 deg orbit. RAE 2 separated from the Star 37D at 1430. The VCS was used to make a midcourse correction at 1528 on Jun 11. The TE-M-479 (Star 17) solid motor fired at 0721 on Jun 15 to insert RAE 2 in a 241 min, 1123 x 1334 km x 38.3 deg lunar orbit. The Star 17 was jettisoned on Jun 18, and the same day the VCS fired to lower the orbit to 221.2 min, 1053 x 1064 km x 38.7 deg. The 37m dipole antenna was extended on Jun 20.

Another object was cataloged in lunar orbit, probably implying the VCS was also ejected after use.

It was reported in Jun 1973 that on Jul 4 the dipole would be retracted, the VCS used to adjust the orbit, and the two main V antennas would be deployed first to 183m, and then a week later to 229m. Total span is 400m. RAE also has a 190m stabilization boom.

RAE 2 operated in lunar orbit until 1977 Apr 30. After that, engineers performed end-of-life tests retracting and extending the antennas. It probably impacted the lunar surface later in 1977. Orbit according to an internal document was 1058 x 1070 km x 59 deg with a 222 min period; this is presumably the first orbit after VCS sep.

 


Explorer 49 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1973 Jun 10  1413:00  Launch by Delta 1913  CK LC17B 
  T+0:38 SRM 4-9 burnout 
  T+0:39 SRM 1-3 on 
  T+1:17 SRM 1-3 out 
  T+1:25 SRM 1-9 sep 
  T+4:29 MECO 
  T+4:33 VECO 
  T+4:36 St 1 sep 
 1417:41  T+4:41 SES-1  
  T+4:55 Fairing sep
 1422:31  T+9:31 SECO-1 
 1425:57  T+13:57 SES-2 29s 
 1426:28  T+14:28 SECO-2  182 x 2074 x 29.3 
  T+15:02 Spinup 
 1428:05  T+15:05 Stage 2 sep 
 1428:19  T+15:17.9 Star 37D burn 44s 
 1429:03  T+16:02.7 Star 37D burnout 
 1430:43  T+17:43 Star 37D separation  182 x 390244 x 29.1  
 1430:45  T+17:45 Star 37D release yo weight  
1973 Jun 11  0600? Pass EL1:4 
1973 Jun 11  1528  VCPS TCM 
1973 Jun 13  0600? Enter lunar sphere 
1973 Jun 15  0721  Star 17 burn 22s LOI  241.0 1123 x 1334 x 61.4 
1973 Jun 18  0725? Star 17 sep 
  Despin to 12 rpm (ACS) 
  VCPS lower orbit to avoid LIM  221.2 1053 x 1064 x 61.4 
1973 Jun 20   37m dipole extended 
1973 Jul 4   Retract dipole? 
1973 Jul 9   Final orbit trim 
1973 Jul 9?   VCPS separated 
1973 Jul   Deploy libration damper 
1973 Jul 12  Deploy to 183m 
  Experiment turn on 
1973 Jul 29   Begin first lunar shadow period 
1973 Oct 26   End first shadow period 
1973 Nov 8   Upper V extension to 200m 
1973 Nov 14   Upper V deploy to 229m 
1974 Jan 3   Begin second lunar shadow period 
1974 Jan 31    222.0 1059 x 1071 x 62.0  
1974 Mar 22   End second shadow period 
1974 Jun 10   Begin third shadow period 
1974 Aug 28   End third shadow period 
1974 Oct 11   One lower-V boom extended to 229m 
1974 Nov 6   Second lower-V boom extended to 229m 
1974 Nov 17   Fourth shadow period 
1975 Feb 1   End shadow period 4 
1975 Apr 21   Shadow period 5 
1975 Jul 1   Begin new-moon-intensive 50-percent data coverage 
1975 Jul 9   End shadow period 5 
1975 Dec 24   Resume full time coverage 
1976 Apr 17   Reduce to 50 percent coverage again 
1976 Oct 19   Resume full time coverage 
1977 Apr 30   End of ops 

Kosmos 963

 1977-109A



Kosmos-963 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1977 Nov 24  1430 Launch by 11K65M  PL 
 1432  Stage 2 burn 
 1438? Stage 2 MECO 
 1533? Stage 2 restart 
 1533? Stage 2 sep 
1977 Nov 24    109.4 1182x1210x82.9 

Sunday, June 18, 1995

Transit 5BN-2

  1963-049B


Transit VBN-2 was launched on 1963 Dec 5, and successfully stabilized itself. On Dec 16 optical confirmation was obtained that the boom had extended. On Dec 22 it began tumbling, but a magnetic damping system successfully restored stability by 1964 Jan 23 and it went into use as the first operational navigation satellite the following day.


Transit VBN-2 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1963 Dec 5  2151  Launch by Thor Ablestar  V 75-1-1 
 2153  Thor MECO (T+2:25) 
 2153  AB start (T+2:28) 
 2153  Thor sep (T+2:29) 
 2153  Thor VECO (T+2:38) 
 2158  AB MECO (T+7:29) 
 2229  AB burn 2 (T+38:44) 
 2229  AB MECO (T+38:51) 
 2231  AB sep (T+40:32)  107.0 1063 x 1113 x 89.96 (VCR) 
   1067 x 1112 x 89.98 (RAE) 
  Gravity gradient boom extended 
  Stablized 
1963 Dec 22   Tumbling, begin damping 
1964 Jan 23   Damping completed 
1964 Jan 24 In operation 
1964 Nov 1   End of operations 
1970 May   Under APL control for testing 

Saturday, June 17, 1995

Saturn SA-1

  1961-S357


The first Saturn C-1 launch, Saturn 101 or SA-1, took place from Launch Complex 34 at Cape Canaveral at 1506 on 1961 Oct 27. The Saturn S-4-1 and S-V-1 upper stages were both dummies. The Centaur was topped by a payload adapter, a Jupiter aft unit (truncated cone) and a Jupiter nosecone. Apogee was 136 km.

SP-4205 gives 1800:06 as the launch time, but the postlaunch report MPR-SAT-WF-61-8 gives 1506:03 and seems definitive (consistent with other times given in same document, so not a typo).

Mass was 153421 kg at OECO including 86874 kg of water ballast.


SA-1 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1961 Oct 27  1506:03  Launch by Saturn C-1 
 1507:53 T+1:50 IECO 
 1507:59  T+1:56 OECO 
 1508:02  T+1:59 end of thrust decay 
 1510:12  T+4:09 Apogee 136 km  -6330 x 136  
 1512:52  T+6:49 LOS at 19 km descending 

STS-51-G (Discovery)

 1985-048A


Mission 51-G deployed three PAM-D class satellites and carried out the first Spartan free-flyer mission.


STS 51-G mission events 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

 
1985 May 28   Roll to VAB 
1985 Jun 4   Rollout  LC39A 
1985 Jun 17  1133:00  Launch from LC39A  
 1135:05  SRB sep, 50.0 km 
 1141:36  MECO 
 1141:54  ET sep, 112.2 km  88.53 61 x 343 x 28.5 
   88.73 68 x 355 x 28.5 (OMS dV) 
 1213:29  OMS-2 2:58 85m/s 
 1216:27  OMS-2 CO 
 1259  PLBD open  91.65 352 x 358 x 28.5 
 1937:51  Morelos deploy 
 1953  SEP-1 (OMS LH 13s) 3m/s  91.78 354 x 368 x 28.47 
1985 Jun 18  1356:56  Arabsat deploy 
 1412?  SEP-2 (OMS LH 13s) 3m/s 91.90 354 x 380 x 28.47 
1985 Jun 19  1120:36  Telstar deploy 
 1135?  SEP-3 (OMS LH 13s) 3m/s 92.01 355 x 391 x 28.5 
1985 Jun 20  1445?  RMS grapple Spartan
 1507  RMS unberth Spartan
 1602:39  RMS deploy Spartan
 1605  RCS sep 1 
 1625  RCS sep 2  92.03 356 x 391 x 28.5 
1985 Jun 21  0829   92.03 355 x 392 x 28.5 
 1654  NC-1 (RCS), range 170km  91.98 352 x 389 x 28.5 
1985 Jun 22  0814  NC-2 (RCS), range 65 km  
 0842  Tally ho Spartan
 1020  NCC (RCS) out of plane 91.95 350 x 389 x 28.5 
 1118  TI (RCS) 15 km range   
 1310  At 6m/s, approaching Spartan 
 1323Rendezvous with Spartan
 1331:55  RMS grapple Spartan91.96 352 x 388 x 28.5 
 1422?  Berth Spartan
 1618  OMS-6 (RH 111s) 30m/s  90.92 284 x 354 x 28.5  
1985 Jun 24  0837  Go for PLBD close 

0856PLBD closed  90.91 284 x 354 x 28.5 
 1207:30 OMS DO (150s) 85m/s 
 1210:01  OMS DO CO 
 1241:22  Entry 
 1311:52  Landed RW23 EAFB 
 1312:05  NGTD 
 1312:24  Wheels stop 
1985 Jun 28  1310  SCA takeoff  EAFB 
 1503SCA landing  Bergstrom AFB TX 

1748SCA takeoff  Bergstrom AFB TX 
 2052  SCA landing  KSC SLF 
1985 Jun 290030Tow to OPF 

Wednesday, June 14, 1995

Raduga 19

 1986-082A


Raduga No. 30 (Gran' 11F638 No. 30) was launched in Oct 1986. It was stationed at 45E until 1991, and then at 35E until it was decommissioned in 1993.


Raduga No. 30(F20) 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1986 Oct 25  1543 Launch by Proton-K  KB 

1552 Stage 3 sep 181 x 181 x 51.6 
 1700? DM burn 1 
   335 x 36681 x 47.4 

2216? DM burn 2 
 2220?  DM sep 
1986 Oct 27    1476.87 36538 x 36623 x 1.3 GEO 69.3E+9.9W 
1986 Oct 31    1436.97 35757 x 35849 x 1.3 GEO 45.1E+0.2W 
1986 Nov 7   mv in  1436.10 35750 x 35822 x 1.3 GEO 44.7E 
1986 Dec 18    1435.86 35741 x 35822 x 1.2 GEO 45.7E 
1987 Apr 13    1436.30 35783 x 35797 x 0.9 GEO 45.0E 
1988 Mar 6    1435.99 35774 x 35794 x 0.1 GEO 44.2E 
1989 Sep 6    1436.17 35786 x 35789 x 1.4 GEO 44.3E 
1991 Jan 23    1436.29 35782 x 35798 x 2.7 GEO 45.0E 
1991 Aug 7    1436.19 35786 x 35790 x 3.1 GEO 44.3E 
1991 Aug 11   mv out 1441.44 35793 x 35988 x 3.1 
1991 Aug 14   mv in  1436.21 35784 x 35793 x 3.1 GEO 34.9E 
1991 Oct 28    1436.10 35767 x 35805 x 3.3 GEO 34.5E 
1992 Jul 21    1435.92 35773 x 35792 x 4.0 GEO 34.9E 
1993 Apr 16    1435.92 35773 x 35793 x 4.6 GEO 34.5E 
1993 Sep 30    1436.00 35779 x 35789 x 4.9 GEO 34.4E

Kosmos 539

  1972-102A


Kosmos-539 was launched in Dec 1972. It was the first of a series of Sfera satellites to enter a higher orbit with a period of 114 minutes.


Kosmos-539 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1972 Dec 21  0205  Launch by 11K65M  PL  
 0207  Stage 2 burn  
 0213?  Stage 2 coast 
 0258?  Stage 2 burn 2 
 0258?  Stage 2 sep  
1972 Dec 28  0230   112.98 1343 x 1383 x 74.0

Saturday, June 10, 1995

Kosmos 1495

 1983-092A


This flight saw the single use of a TC beacon in the Zenit program.


Kosmos-1495 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1983 Sep 3  1015  Launch by Soyuz  Plesetsk 
 1019 Blok-I burn 
 1023 Blok-I sep 
1983 Sep 3    88.83 208 x 224 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 4    88.82 207 x 224 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 4   Raise orbit  88.98 213 x 235 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 12    88.84 207 x 226 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 13   Raise orbit 88.98 214 x 232 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 15   88.93 213 x 229 x 82.3 
1983 Sep 16   
 0626? Deorbit 
 0635? PO sep 
 0642? Entry 
 0702? Landed 

Prognoz 8

 1980-103A


Prognoz-8 was launched in Dec 1980 and continued the space science investigations of its predecessors.


Prognoz-8 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1980 Dec 25  0402 Launch by Molniya-M  KB 
 0411  Blok-I MECO 
 0411  Blok I sep 
 0507? Blok-L burn 
 0511? Blok-L MECO 
 0511?  Blok-L sep 
 2354  Pass EL1:4 
   5689.0 980 x 197390 x 65.8 
1981 Sep   Still operating 
1981 Oct 10   end of ops 
1984 Dec 28   reentered

Thursday, June 8, 1995

Kosmos 672

  1974-064A


The second 7K-TM test flight was 11F615A12 No. 72, a 6 day mission in Aug 1974.


Kosmos-672 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1974 Aug 12  0625:02 Launch by Soyuz  KB 
 0627 Blok BVGD sep 
 0629  Blok A sep 
 0633  Blok I MECO 
 0633  Blok-I sep 
1974 Aug 12  1041  
89.51 195 x 304 x 51.8 
 1208   88.65 194 x 220 x 51.8 
1974 Aug 13  0720   88.65 193 x 222 x 51.8 
  Raise perigee 
1974 Aug 14  0702   88.96 223 x 223 x 51.8 
  Orbit adjust 
1974 Aug 14  1259   89.13 226 x 236 x 51.8 
1974 Aug 16  1356   89.02 223 x 228 x 51.8 
1974 Aug 17  0743   88.95 219 x 225 x 51.8 
1974 Aug 17  2103   88.92 218 x 223 x 51.8 
1974 Aug 18  0420?  Deorbit  
 0423?  DO CO 
 0436?  Modules sep 
 0441?  Entry  -173? x 223 x 51.8 
  0505 Landed

Town and Country: January 1995

 https://welib.org/md5/8ffed0a999fee524241404f8a82f317d

Saturday, June 3, 1995

Venera 2B

  1962-043A


The second 2MV-1 probe suffered a similar fate to the first, reentering from parking orbit after 5 days. A fuel valve on the S1.5400A1 engine failed to open and the Blok-L main engine did not ignite.


2MV-1 No. 2 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1962 Sep 1  0212:30 Launch by 8K78  KB 
 0217  Blok-A sep 
 0217  Blok-I burn 
 0221  Blok-I sep  180 x 310 x 64.9 
 0312 BOZ burn 
 0314:00  Blok-L failed to ignite 
1962 Sep 6   Reentered 

Friday, June 2, 1995

Gambit 32

 1966-083A


KH-7 32 was launched on 1966 Sep 16 by Atlas Agena D from Vandenberg on a 6 day mission. The Agena D rocket reentered after 1 day; shortly after orbit insertion a small piggyback satellite was launched from the Agena aft rack. This was the last KH-7 to carry such a subsatellite. As well as the OCV, the Agena, and the subsatellite, one debris object was tracked; the SATCAT and the UN give a 474 x 498 km x 94.0 deg orbit and a decay date of Oct 30, so it was probably a small sensor cover from the subsatellite.


KH-7 32 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1966 Sep 16  1759 Launch by Atlas Agena D  V  
  T+2:18? BECO 
  T+4:37? SECO 
  T+4:54? VECO 
  T+4:59? Atlas sep 
  T+5:51? Agena MES 
 1808 T+9:50? Agena MECO 
1966 Sep 16  1935? Subsatellite ejected from Agena 
1966 Sep 16   OCV separated from Agena 
1966 Sep 17   89.4 148 x 333 x 94.0 (RAE) 
1966 Sep 23  Rev 111 last image 
1966 Sep 23  SRV recovered 
 2247  Rev 111 deorbit opp 
1966 Sep 25  reentered

These Are Not My Beautiful Stories

  Summary: The chapters within are outlines for both future stories I’ve got planned (in the case that I never get around to writing them) a...