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Yantar-2K Cutaway Credit: Dmitry Pieson. 49,419 bytes. 600 x 550 pixels. |
Yantar was the Soviet Union’s second series of photo reconnaissance satellites, succeeding the Zenit series in the primary film reconnaissance role. Yantars were identified in the West as 'Fourth Generation Photo Reconnaissance Satellite'. In comparison with the Zenit series, the Yantar was equipped with manoeuvring engines to change the spacecraft’s orbit, thereby providing more flexibility and surprise in photographing targets of interest. In common with the Zenit it was equipped with a large re-entry capsule which returned the camera and primary electronics for reuse. However it also had two small capsules for return of film before return of the main capsule. The design lifetime of Yantar was 30 days, as opposed to the 12 days of the Zenit. The SpK capsules would typically make interim film deliveries on the tenth and eighteenth days of flight.
The Yantar project was first assigned to Yangel's KB Yuzhnoye in the period 1964-1967. The DS satellites of Yuzhnoye (Chief Constructor V M Kovtunenko) solved problems related to the Yantar series. But Yuzhnoye was too busy building ICBM's for the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces. So Kozlov's Filial 1 of OKB-1 took up the project after a delay in 1967 to 1969.
The approval for development of Yantar was contained in an omnibus Central Committee decree in July 1967. An entire family of Yantar spacecraft was proposed by Kozlov’s design bureau during the initial development; information on two film return models has been declassified. Yantar was initially derived from the Soyuz spacecraft, including systems developed for the cancelled Soyuz VI military model. During design and development this changed until it had very little in common with Soyuz.
Yantar development was plagued with several delays. The satellite was initially designed for launch by the Soyuz 11A511M launch vehicle, and Yantar-2K test-construction work began in 1970 . First equipment tests occurred on Zenit flights (by 1978 65 experimental Yantar instruments had been tested on Zenit). However the decision to standardise Soyuz launch vehicles to a common 11A511U version led to redesign and a delay in the first launch of the new spacecraft until after 1973. Even so neither the Kondor control system or the SpK film return capsules were ready when the launch vehicle was.
In February 1973 flight tests began of Yantar systems. The first attempted launch in May 1974 resulted in the launch vehicle being destroyed at third stage ignition. The first two successful Yantar flights used the Sokol control system from Zenit, in place of the VNIIEM-3M computer originally developed for the 11N6110. The second test flight resulted in successful return of the film. However a string of problems and failures then ensued. Tests of the production version began in September 1975. Six were flown, of which four completed their programs. The first fully equipped spacecraft did not fly until February 1976. The first full-configuration, fully successful flight finally came in April 1977. An acceptance test flight in October 1977 led to the Yantar-2K being accepted into Red Army service in May 1978.
The Yantar 2K featured double the duration and film capacity of earlier systems. This was combined with improved operational dissemination and use of information. Kozlov was the prime contractor, with the following major subcontractors:
Many original technical solutions were required to achieve optimal results and high reliability without sacrificing payload, since the Yantar-2K was mass-limited to launch by a Soyuz launch vehicle. The following technical problems had to be solved:
The Yantar consisted of three modules, which formed a truncated cone with a half-angle of 12 degrees. From bottom to top these modules were:
![]() | Yantar 2K 10,907 bytes. 364 x 256 pixels. |
Design Life: 30 days. Total Length: 6.3 m. Maximum Diameter: 2.7 m. Total Mass: 6,600 kg.
Decree 715-240 'On the Creation of Space Systems for Naval Reconnaissance Comprising the US sat and the R-36-based booster -further work on the US naval reconnaissance satellite, approval of work on the Yantar-2K, and course of work on 7K-VI Zvezda'.
An entire family of Yantar spacecraft was proposed by Kozlov’s design bureau during the initial development; information on two film return models has been declassified. Yantar was initially derived from the Soyuz spacecraft, including systems developed for the Soyuz VI military model. During design and development this changed until it had very little in common with Soyuz.
Following numerous problems in the first flight tests of the Soyuz 7K-OK, Kozlov ordered a complete redesign of the 7K-VI manned military spacecraft. The new spacecraft, with a crew of two, would have a total mass of 6.6 tonnes and could operate for a month in orbit. The new design switched the positions of the Soyuz descent module and the orbital modules and was 300 kg too heavy for the standard 11A511 launch vehicle. Therefore Kozlov designed a new variant of the Soyuz launch vehicle, the 11A511M. The project was approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, with first flight to be in 1968 and operations to begin in 1969. The booster design, with unknown changes to the basic Soyuz, did not go into full production.
Ministry of General Machine Building (MOM) Decree 220 'On approval of work on the Yantar-2K' was issued.
First test launch of Yantar second generation reconnaissance spacecraft.
Yantar second generation reconnaissance spacecraft. After failure of the first Yantar-2K launch, a review board recommended modifications to the Soyuz U launch vehicle. This second Yantar still used the Sokol control system from the Zenit and lacked the SpK small film recovery capsules. As planned, after 12 days, the main descent capsule was successfully recovered with its film.
Third Yantar-2K second generation reconnaissance flight, the first with the new Kondor attitude control system. This system experienced problems and failed on the second day of flight. The spacecraft's destruct package was activated by ground command and the spacecraft was destroyed on 6 September 1975 in its second day of flight.
Fourth Yantar-2K second generation reconnaissance flight and the first with two SpK small film recovery capsules. First flight of the completely equipped satellite. The main reentry capsule and its film cargo were returned successfully. Both SpK capsules successfully separated from the Yantar in the course of the flight, but neither was recovered. The parachutes of the first did not deploy and the capsule crashed into the ground. The solid motor of the second capsule did not fire as programmed and the capsule did not deorbit at the expected time.
Fifth Yantar second generation reconnaissance test flight. One of the solar panels would not unfold. Ground control activiated the destruct package and the spacecraft was destroyed on 25 July.
Sixth Yantar second generation reconnaissance test flight and first completely successful flight. Both small SpK film capsules successfully recovered during course of flight, as was the main OSA cabin with its camera, computer, and main film cannisters. First full duration Yantar flight.
Flight trials of the Yantar-2K indicated the satellite was not capable of providing strategic warning of attack. The planned Yantar-6K series, in development since 1969, were overweight and behind schedule. A meeting of the Council of Chief Designers at TsSKB reviewed alternative approaches. It was decided that three variants of the Yantar-2K were to be developed, one of them the high resolution Yantar-4K.
Yantar-2K second generation reconnaissance state acceptance test flight. Completely successful and led to acceptance of Yantar-2K into Red Army service in 1978. Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
An acceptance test flight in October 1977 led to the Yantar-2K being accepted into Red Army service in May 1978.
Successful full duration flight. Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance. Spacecraft depressurization led to malfunction of spacecraft. Deorbited after 12 days.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance. Mission terminated early for unknown reasons (normally 30 day duration).
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Yantar Area survey photo reconnaissance spacecraft failed to achieve orbit.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; film capsule; also performed earth resources tasks. Returned in less than usual 30 day full duration.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
Area survey photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission. Final Yantar-2K mission.