February 1983:satellite digest

TELESAT 5 1982-82A

Launched: 2310, 26 Aug 1982 from Eastern Space and
Missile Center by Delta 3920.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical construction based
on the Hughes HS 376 standard satellite body,
length 6.7 m, diameter approx. 2 m and mass
around 1200 kg.

Mission: Canadian domestic communications
satellite.

Orbit: Geostationary, located above 104 deg west
longitude.

MOLNIYA-3(19) 1982-83A

Launched: 0030, 27 Aug 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body housing instrumentation and the payload is 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: The satellite provides telephone and
telegraphic communications and transmits Central Television programmes to "Orbita" ground
stations in the USSR and other countries.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit and then injected
into a highly elliptical orbit of 457 X 40,823 km,
736.60 min. 62.87 deg. Later manoeuvred to
approx. 450 X 39,500 km, 718 min to ensure
daily repetition of ground tracks.

COSMOS 1402 1982-84A

Launched: 0430. 1 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam by
F-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available but probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Military reconnaissance using radar.

Orbit: Initially 251 X 264 km, 89.65 min, 65.00
deg and maintained constantly near that height
by the use of a low thrust motor.

COSMOS 1403 1982-85A

Launched: 0910, 1 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Vostok
manned spacecraft with spherical re-entry module, instrument unit, 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,
recovered after 14 days.

Orbit: 354 X 416 km. 92.26 min. 70.38 deg.

COSMOS 1404 1982-86A

Launched: 1255, 2 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1403.

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

Orbit: 358 X414 km. 92.30 min. 72.85 deg,
manoeuvrable.

KIKU 4 1982-87A

Launched: about 2125, 3 Sep 1982 from Tanegashima Space
Centre by N-1.

Spacecraft data: Box-shaped body with solar
panels, 0.85 X 0.85 X 2.1 m deep and with 6 m
span. The satellite is 3 axis stabilised using reaction wheels. The mass is 385 kg.

Mission: A series of technical experiments connected with operation of the satellite itself and
the development of future spacecraft systems.
Of particular interest are the attitude control
system, the deployment and operation of the
solar array, and the efficiency of the thermal
control system. The experiments package
includes a vidicon camera for Earth images, an
ion engine, an active thermal control system and
a magnetic attitude control system.

Orbit: 965 X 1228 km. 107.10 min. 44.62 deg.

COSMOS 1405 1982-88A

Launched: 1745, 4 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam by
F-1.

Spacecraft data: Not available but probably several tonnes mass.

Mission: Probably an ocean surveillance satellite
carrying out electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 430 X 444 km, 93.30 min, 65.02 deg.

COSMOS 1406 1982-89A

Launched: 1020, 8 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk,
possibly by F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1403.

Mission: Photo-reconnaissance, all or part of the
payload was an Earth resources package,
recovered after 13 days.

Orbit: 212 X 220 km. 88.81 min, 82.30 deg.

CHINA 10 1982-90A

Launched: 0730, 9 Sep 1982 from Shuang Cheng
Tse by Long March 2.

Spacecraft data: Not available, but probably 2-3 tonnes in mass.

Mission: Satellite development, including recovery techniques. Part of the satellite was recovered
after 4 days.

Orbit: 175 X 384 km, 90.08 min. 62.98 deg.

COSMOS 1407 1982-91A

Launched: 1530, 14 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2.

Spacecraft data: Possibly similar to Cosmos

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

Orbit: 174 X 340 km. 89.64 min. 67.15 deg.

COSMOS 1408 1982-92A

Launched: 0505, 16 Sep 1982 from Plesetsk by
F vehicle.

Spacecraft data: Not available.

Mission: Electronic reconnaissance.

Orbit: 635 X 669 km, 97.78 min, 82.57 deg.

EKRAN 9 1982-93A

Launched: 1845, 16 Sep 1982 from Tyuratam
by D-1-E + apogee motor.

Spacecraft data: A cylinder with a pair of
boom-mounted solar panels and a transmitting
array. Length 5 m, diameter 2 m and mass around
2000 kg.

Mission: To transmit programmes of Central Television to collective receiving stations in remote
areas.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at 51.6 deg
inclination, then transferred to an elliptical orbit
at 47 deg inclination, followed by circularisation
into a geostationary drift orbit before stabilisation
above 99 deg east longitude (Statsionar 14).