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Strela-1 - Strela-1 prototype. Later spacecraft in the series are believed to be similar in appearance. 26,012 bytes. 260 x 388 pixels. |
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Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Nation: USSR. The Strela communications system consisted of a constellation of medium orbit store-dump satellites that provided survivable communications for Soviet military and intelligence forces. The operational constellation consisted of several dozen Strela-1M and 8 Strela-2M satellites. The small Strela-1M was used for open information only, and received data uploads from military units, with the messages held and then retransmitted to ground stations when the satellite was over Soviet territory. The system was developed experimentally in the 1960's, with flight tests from 1964 to 1965. Reshetnev was the chief designer in collaboration with the KB Krasnoyarsk Radio-Technical Factory (V G Taranenko) and MNIIRS MPSS (Yu S Bikov). Flight tests of the operational system began in 1970. Production system work began in 1972. In 1973 the Strela 1M system was accepted by the military. The Kosmos 3M was the launch vehicle, with eight Strela-1M satellites launched at a time. The eight satellites would be in similar 1500 km altitude orbits with periods varying between 114.5 to 116.0 minutes. . The intentional orbital period difference ensured that the satellites would become randomly spaced about the orbital plane shortly after launch. Strela-1M was replaced by the somewhat larger and more capable Strela-3 beginning in 1985. A total of 360 Strela-1M reached orbit before the satellite was phased out in 1992.
SpecificationTotal Length: 0.8 m. Maximum Diameter: 0.8 m. Total Mass: 61 kg.
Strela-1M Chronology
15 November 1959
Authorisation for development of the Strela-1M satellite system. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On tasking NII-4 to create a sea-based communications network' was issued.
25 April 1970
Cosmos 339 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 50 kg. Perigee: 1,443 km. Apogee: 1,466 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
07 May 1971
Cosmos 417 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 50 kg. Perigee: 1,341 km. Apogee: 1,489 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
13 October 1971
Cosmos 445 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 50 kg. Perigee: 1,348 km. Apogee: 1,509 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
20 July 1972
Cosmos 504 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 50 kg. Perigee: 1,318 km. Apogee: 1,494 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
01 November 1972
Cosmos 529 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 50 kg. Perigee: 1,399 km. Apogee: 1,466 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
08 June 1973
Cosmos 569 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,355 km. Apogee: 1,477 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
03 October 1973
Cosmos 595 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,397 km. Apogee: 1,483 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
19 December 1973
Cosmos 622 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,367 km. Apogee: 1,482 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
23 April 1974
Cosmos 645 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,366 km. Apogee: 1,480 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
19 September 1974
Cosmos 677 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,394 km. Apogee: 1,464 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
28 February 1975
Cosmos 716 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,478 km. Apogee: 1,511 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
28 May 1975
Cosmos 738 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,466 km. Apogee: 1,508 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
17 September 1975
Cosmos 762 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,436 km. Apogee: 1,482 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
28 January 1976
Cosmos 792 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,434 km. Apogee: 1,488 km. Inclination: 74.1 deg.
15 June 1976
Cosmos 829 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,447 km. Apogee: 1,489 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
07 December 1976
Cosmos 873 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,461 km. Apogee: 1,494 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
24 August 1977
Cosmos 939 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,430 km. Apogee: 1,460 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
10 January 1978
Cosmos 977 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,397 km. Apogee: 1,462 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
08 June 1978
Cosmos 1020 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,405 km. Apogee: 1,482 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
04 October 1978
Cosmos 1041 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,474 km. Apogee: 1,507 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
05 December 1978
Cosmos 1056 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,469 km. Apogee: 1,502 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
15 March 1979
Cosmos 1081 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,402 km. Apogee: 1,463 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
26 September 1979
Cosmos 1134 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,451 km. Apogee: 1,482 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
12 February 1980
Cosmos 1163 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,469 km. Apogee: 1,541 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
09 July 1980
Cosmos 1198 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,471 km. Apogee: 1,506 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
24 December 1980
Cosmos 1233 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,417 km. Apogee: 1,462 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
06 March 1981
Cosmos 1250 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,387 km. Apogee: 1,469 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
06 August 1981
Cosmos 1289 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,424 km. Apogee: 1,462 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
28 November 1981
Cosmos 1322 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,479 km. Apogee: 1,626 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
06 May 1982
Cosmos 1364 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,472 km. Apogee: 1,521 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
21 July 1982
Cosmos 1392 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,457 km. Apogee: 1,473 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
24 November 1982
Strela-1M Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.
19 January 1983
Cosmos 1431 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,463 km. Apogee: 1,480 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
06 July 1983
Cosmos 1473 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,392 km. Apogee: 1,460 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
05 January 1984
Cosmos 1529 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,458 km. Apogee: 1,510 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
29 May 1984
Cosmos 1564 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,421 km. Apogee: 1,474 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
21 March 1985
Cosmos 1638 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,454 km. Apogee: 1,478 km. Inclination: 74.1 deg.
09 January 1986
Cosmos 1722 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,410 km. Apogee: 1,481 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
06 June 1986
Cosmos 1752 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,466 km. Apogee: 1,484 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
21 November 1986
Cosmos 1798 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,426 km. Apogee: 1,470 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
16 June 1987
Cosmos 1852 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,470 km. Apogee: 1,498 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg. Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.
11 March 1988
Cosmos 1929 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,427 km. Apogee: 1,458 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
24 March 1989
Cosmos 2015 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,467 km. Apogee: 1,508 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
06 April 1990
Cosmos 2067 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 45 kg. Perigee: 1,398 km. Apogee: 1,461 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
12 February 1991
Cosmos 2129 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 40 kg. Perigee: 1,427 km. Apogee: 1,467 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
03 June 1992
Cosmos 2190 Program: Strela. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 45 kg. Perigee: 1,428 km. Apogee: 1,478 km. Inclination: 74.0 deg.
Bibliography:- 2 - McDowell, Jonathan, The United Nations Registry of Space Objects, Harvard University, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/QEDT/jcm/space/un/un.html
- 6 - JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html
- 445 - Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997..
- 450 - Frolov, I, Kosmodrom, "Kratkiy istoricheskiy obzor sovietskikh (rossiyskikh) voennikh sredstv", No. 8, 1999, p. 21..
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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