September-October 1982:satellite digest

COSMOS 1342 1982-18A

Launched: 1050, 5 Mar 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: Initially 194X 299 km, 89.48 min, 72.88
degrees but manoeuvred during the first day
to 227 X 288 km, 89.70 min, 72.86 degrees and
maintained near this height for the rest of the
flight with a small manoeuvre on 11 Mar to
counteract decay.

IMEWS 13 (OPS 8701) 1982-19A

Launched: 2015, 6 Mar 1982 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by Titan 3C.

Spacecraft data: not available.

Mission: US Air Force-launched early warning
satellite for missile launches. The previous
launch in the series was IMEWS 12 (1981-107A).

Orbit: Initially a geostationary transfer orbit
at 29 degrees inclination, then injected into
a drift orbit before final stabilisation above 68
degrees west longitude, the same as IMEWS
11 (1981-25A).

GORIZONT 5 1982-20A

Launched: 0439,15 Mar 1982 from Tyuratam
by D-1-e+apogee motor.

Spacecraft data: Cylinder with a pair of solar
panels, an array of aerial horns and reflectors
is located at one end. Length about 5 m and
max diameter about 2 m, the mass is around
2000 kg.

Mission: To provide telephone, telegraph and
television relay links both within and outside
the USSR.

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit at 51.6
degrees inclination, then an elliptical transfer
orbit at 47 degrees prior to injection into
geostationary drift orbit with final stabilisation
above 54 degrees east longitude (Statsionar 5).

COSMOS 1343 1982-21A

Launched; 1030, 17 Mar 1982 from Plesetsk
by A-2.

Spacecraft data: as Cosmos 1342.

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

Orbit: Initially 197X287 km, 89.37 min, 72.86
degrees, manoeuvred during first day to
227x 288 km, 89.69 min, 72.84 degrees. Further raised on 25 Mar to 222x328 km,
90.04 min, 72.84 degrees.

STS-3 1982-22A

Launched: 1600, 22 Mar 1982.from pad A of
launch complex 39 at the Kennedy Space
Center.

Spacecraft data: Re-usable Shuttle Columbia, lift off mass 2,031,619 kg including 9658.5 kg
of cargo.

Mission; Third flight in the Shuttle system’s
Orbital Flight Test Programme, crewed by
commander Col. Jack R. Lousma of the US
Marine Corps and pilot Col Charles C. Fullerton of the US Air Force (both NASA
astronauts).

The major objectives of the flight were
engineering and included further tests of the
remote manipulator system (started on STS-2) as well as measuring the thermal response
of the Orbiter’s structure during long periods
of holding constant attitude with respect to
the Sun. The payload bay held a number of
experiments as part of a package put together
by NASA’s Office of Space Science (OSS) and
a test article connected with future ’’Getaway
Special” payloads (officially titled Small Self
Contained Payloads). The OSS-1 package was
mounted on an engineering model of the
Spacelab pallet built by British Aerospace.

The instruments consisted of;

Contamination Monitor Package: to measure
the build-up of contaminants on the surfaces
of the Shuttle during launch and flight.
Sources of contaminating materials include outgassing from orbiter and payload structures, thruster firings and waste dumping
activities by the crew.

Micro-abrasion Foil Experiment: the first
non-US originated experiment to fly on a
Shuttle mission, this was developed by the
University of Kent, England. The effect of
micrometeorite impacts on different thicknesses of aluminium coated on plastic were
studied after recovery of the payload.

Plasma Diagnostics Package: a cluster of
instruments to study the interaction of the
Orbiter with the surrounding space, in particular the magnetic and electric fields present.
For part of the time, the package was deployed
away from the Orbiter body using the manipulator arm.

Induced Atmosphere Experiment: designed
to measure the optical effects of any atmosphere created around the vehicle by volatile
materials evaporating from the structure.

Solar Flare X-ray Polarimeter: an astronomical
instrument which used metallic lithium to
detect solar X-rays and to measure their
polarisation.

Solar UV Spectral Irradiance Monitor: consisted of a pair of UV spectrometen and a
calibration source for solar studies.

Vehicle Charging and Potential Experiment:
an experiment to investigate the electrical
charging of the Orbiter’s structure caused by
interaction with the natural plasma of the
ionosphere.

Other experiments in the cargo bay but not
part of the pallet were:

Getaway Special Verification: a test item containing instrumentation to measure the environment in which future such payloads will
fly and operate.

Induced Environment Contamination Monitor: further measurements of the general
environment of an orbiting Shuttle, this time
actually analysing the induced atmosphere for
cross reference with results obtained from the
Contamination Monitor package.

Some experiments were also carried in the
crew deck area of the vehicle:

Plant Growth Unit: an investigation of plants’
production of lignin which has an industrial
application as the source of a polymer for
bonding wood with other materials. The
plants involved were a slash pine (native to
the East and Gulf coasts of the US), the mung
bean and oats.

Monodisperse Latex Reactor: a materials
processing experiment studying a means of
producing monodisperse (identical sized)
polystyrene latex beads up to 20 microns
diameter for medical and industrial use.

Electrophoresis Test: designed to evaluate the
feasibility of separating living cells by their
differing surface electric charges.

Student Involvement Project: the first of a
series of experiments evolved by students and
submitted through a competition. This particular one, devised by Todd Nelson of
Adams, Minnesota, studied the abilities of
Velvetbean Caterpillar Moths and Honey Bee
drones to fly in zero gravity.

STS-3 landed at White Sands, New Mexico
rather than the originally planned site of
Edwards Air Force Base, because of heavy
rains softening the dry lake bed. Touchdown
was at 1605, 30 Mar 1982 with Columbia
coming to a standstill one minute later. The
flight time from lift off to touch down was 8
days and 5 minutes.

Orbit: The highest orbit attained on this flight
as a result of manoeuvres using the OMS was
244X255 km, 89.36 min, 38.02 degrees.

MOLNIYA-3 (18) 1982-23A

Launched: 0018, 23 Mar 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 4m, diameter 1.6m and the
mass around 2000 kg.

Mission: Replacement or backup for
Molniya-3(15), 1981-30A. The satellite provides long distance 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
626x40619 km, 735.82 min, 62.87 degrees.
Later manoeuvred to 627x39768 km,
718.59 min, 62.84 degrees to ensure daily  repetition of ground tracks.

COSMOS 1344 1982-24A

Launched: 1947, 24 Mar 1982 from Plesetsk
by C-1.

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

Mission: Navigation satellite replacing or
backing up Cosmos 1244 (1981-13A).

Orbit: 967X1011 km, 104.95 min, 82.92 deg.

METEOR 2 (8) 1982-25A

Launched: 0950, 25 Mar 1982 from Plesetsk,
possibly by a version of the F vehicle though
the Meteor 2 is usually an A-1 launch.

Spacecraft data: Cylindrical body with two,
Sun-seeking solar panels. Length about 5 m,
diameter about 1.5m and mass around 2200 kg.

Mission: The return of cloud cover and other
meteorological data through scanning radiometers and other instruments. The satellite
may also have an Earth rescources role.

Orbit: 941x961 km, 104.12 min, 82.54 deg.
This is slightly higher than previous Meteor
2s which have flown around 900 km, 102.5 min.

COSMOS 1345 1982-26A

Launched: 0902, 31 Mar 1982 from Plesetsk by C-1

Spacecraft data: not available.

Mission: Military, possibly radar calibration.

Orbit: 504X545 km, 95.15 min, 74.04 deg.

COSMOS 1346 1982-27A

Launched: 1627, 1 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk
by A-1.

Spacecraft data- Possibly based on the Meteor
satellites; see Meteor 2(8) above. Mass around
2000 kg.

Mission: Possibly electronic reconnaissance.
Like the previous launch, this vehicle’s orbit
plane is 12.5 degrees to the east of the existing
six satellite system. Cosmos 1346 replaces or
backs up Cosmos 1222 (1980-93A).

Orbit: 621X660 km, 97.58 min, 81.18 degrees.

COSMOS 1347 1982-28A

Launched: 1015, 2 Apr 1982 from Tyuratam
by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1342.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance, 2 month lifetime.

Orbit: Initially 172X340 km, 89.66 min, 70.36
degrees then manoeuvred several times to
counteract decay and provide specific target
coverage.

COSMOS 1348 1982-29A

Launched: 1342, 7 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2-e.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the Molniya
satellites.

Mission: Part of the USSR's missile early warning system, replacing or backing up Cosmos
1172 (1980-28A).

Orbit: Initially a low parking orbit then
injected into a highly elliptical one of
592x39315 km, 708.71 min, 62.85 degrees.
Later manoeuvred to 596x39751 km,
717.61 min, 62.85 degrees.

COSMOS 1349 1982-30A

Launched: 0015,8 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk by
C-1.

Spacecraft data: as Cosmos 1344.

Mission: Navigation satellite replacing or
backing up Cosmos 1153 (1980-7A).

Orbit: 968x1012 km, 104.96 min, 82.93
degrees.

INSAT 1A 1982-31A Launched: 0650, 8 Apr 1982 from Launch
Complex 17A, Eastern Space and Missile
Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,by Delta 3910 with PAM upper stage

Spacecraft data: A box shaped body,
1.55x1.42x2.18 m, and with a fully fuelled
mass of 1152 kg. A single solar panel is counterbalanced by a solar "sail”. The satellite was
built by Ford Aerospace of the USA for the
Indian government.

Mission: The first of two Indian National
Satellites (from which the name is derived),
it provides 12 transponders for communications (6 GHz uplink and 4 GHz down) and
two for direct television broadcasts to small
installations (6 GHz up, 2.5 GHz down).
These channels can also be used for radio
programme distribution and giving disaster
warnings.

The dual purpose satellite also carries a
very high resolution radiometer for returning
whole hemisphere meteorological images
(similar to Meteosat), which it does every half
hour. The radiometer works in visible and
infra-red light.

Some problems were encountered early on
with the apogee boost motor firing and satellite deployment. These were eventually
overcome.

Orbit.- Initially a geostationary transfer orbit
at 28 degrees but raised by several firings of
the apogee boost motor. Eventually stabilised
above 74 degrees east.

COSMOS 1350 1982-32A

Launched: 1430, 15 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk by A-2.

Spacecraft data: as Cosmos 1342.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance,recovered or re-entered after 31 days.

Orbit: Initially 171X357 km, 89.80 min, 67.16
degrees but manoeuvred several times during
the mission to prevent decay and provide
specific target coverage.

SALYUT 7 1982-33A

Launched: 1945, 19 Apr 1982 from Tyuratam by D-1.

Spacecraft data: Similar to Salyut 6,
ie a cylinder about 15m long and up to approx
4m diameter with three large solar panels.
There is a docking unit at each end designed
to take larger spacecraft than Soyuz and Progress, such as the "Star" module tested with
Cosmos 929 and Cosmos 1267. The latter was
still attached to Salyut 6 at the time of Salyut
7’s launch. The mass is around 19 tonnes.

Mission: Manned orbiting space laboratory.

Orbit: Initially 213X261 km, 89.17 min, 51.61
degrees, later manoeuvred to the Salyut 6
operating height of around 340 km, 91.4 min
for manned occupation, initally by the
Soyuz-T5 crew.

COSMOS 1351 1982-34A

Launched: 0135, 21 Apr 1982 from Kapustin
Yar by C-1.

Spacecraft data: Possibly based on the small
“Cosmos" standard body with solar panels, ie
an octagonal ellipsoid, mass around 550 kg.

Mission: Not known but probably military in nature.

Orbit: 348x547 km, 93.48 min, 50.69 degrees.

COSMOS 1352 1982-35A

Launched: 0915, 21 Apr 1982 from Tyuratam
by A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1342.

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

Orbit: Initially 208 x 360 km, 90.22 min, 70.37 degrees but manoeuvred after one day to its
operating height of 349X415 km, 92.22 min,
70.38 degrees to ensure constant spacing
between equivalent ground tracks on succes¬
sive days.

COSMOS 1353 1982-36A

Launched: 0940, 23 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk by
A-2.

Spacecraft data: As Cosmos 1342.

Mission: Military photo-reconnaissance,

recovered after 13 days.

Orbit: 211X241 km, 89.06 min, 82.36 degrees,
maintained near this height for the whole
mission with a manoeuvre on 30 May to counteract decay.

COSMOS 1354 1982-37A

Launched: 0255, 28 Apr 1982 from Plesetsk by
C-1.

Spacecraft data: Not known but may be similar
to the navigation satellites (see Cosmos 1344).

Mission: Military communications using a
store/dump technique.

Orbit: 794X807 km, 100.91 min, 74.04 deg.

COSMOS 1355 1982-38A

Launched: 0955, 29 Apr 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: Initially 428 x446 km, 93.33 min,
65.06 deg. and then maintained precisely at
that height by a low thrust motor.