Prognoz (satellite)

Summary

Prognoz, also known as SO (Solar Object, first three satellites), SO-M (SO-modified, next seven satellites) and SO-M2 (last two satellites, also known as Interball) was a Soviet scientific research satellite programme. Twelve Prognoz satellites were launched between 14 April 1972 and 29 August 1996, by Molniya-M carrier rockets. The satellites were placed in High Earth orbits. First ten Prognoz spacescrafts were launched from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome and last two from Site 43/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[1][2][3]

Prognoz
ManufacturerLavochkin
Country of originSoviet Union
OperatorRVSN
ApplicationsScientific research
Specifications
Launch mass920 kilograms (2,030 lb)
RegimeHEO
Dimensions
Production
StatusRetired
Launched12
Retired12
Maiden launchPrognoz 1
14 April 1972
Last launchPrognoz 12
29 August 1996

The satellites were primarily used for Solar research, however the later satellites were used for other research, including research into the Big Bang theory, and Earth's magnetosphere.[4] The tenth satellite was used as part of the Interkosmos programme.

Satellites edit

Designation[5] Launch date/time (GMT)[6] Mass[4] Apogee
initial[5]
Perigee
initial[5]
Inclination
initial[5]
Mission[4][5] Remarks
Prognoz 1 14 April 1972, 00:54 845 kilograms (1,863 lb) 199,667 kilometres (124,067 mi) 1,005 kilometres (624 mi) 65° Study Solar activity
Prognoz 2 29 June 1972, 03:47 845 kilograms (1,863 lb) 201,804 kilometres (125,395 mi) 517 kilometres (321 mi) 65.3° Study Solar activity
Prognoz 3 15 February 1973, 01:11 845 kilograms (1,863 lb) 200,000 kilometres (120,000 mi) 590 kilometres (370 mi) 65° Study Solar activity
Prognoz 4 22 December 1975, 02:08 905 kilograms (1,995 lb) 199,000 kilometres (124,000 mi) 634 kilometres (394 mi) 65° Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere
Prognoz 5 25 November 1976, 03:59 930 kilograms (2,050 lb) 198,560 kilometres (123,380 mi) 777 kilometres (483 mi) 65.2° Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere
Prognoz 6 22 September 1977, 00:51 910 kilograms (2,010 lb) 197,867 kilometres (122,949 mi) 488 kilometres (303 mi) 65° Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere
Prognoz 7 30 October 1978, 05:23 950 kilograms (2,090 lb) 202,627 kilometres (125,907 mi) 472 kilometres (293 mi) 64.9° Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere
UV, X-ray and Gamma ray astronomy
Carried Czechoslovakian, French, Hungarian and Swedish experiments
Prognoz 8 25 December 1980, 04:02 910 kilograms (2,010 lb) 197,364 kilometres (122,636 mi) 978 kilometres (608 mi) 65.8° Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere Carried Czechoslovakian, Polish and Swedish experiments
Prognoz 9 1 July 1983, 12:17 1,060 kilograms (2,340 lb) 700,000 kilometres (430,000 mi) 480 kilometres (300 mi) 65° Study Solar and cosmic radiation, Solar Plasma, Earth's magnetosphere and Gamma rays Carried Czechoslovakian and French experiments
Prognoz 10
(Intershock)
26 April 1985, 05:48 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) 194,734 kilometres (121,002 mi) 5,975 kilometres (3,713 mi) 65° Study Solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere Intercosmos 23. Carried Czechoslovakian experiments
Prognoz 11
(Interball Tail Probe)
2 August 1995 193,064 kilometres (119,964 mi) 505 kilometres (314 mi) 63.8° Study Solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere
Prognoz 12
(Interball Auroral Probe)
29 August 1996 19,140 kilometres (11,890 mi) 782 kilometres (486 mi) 62.8° Study aurora

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Prognoz 1,2,3 (SO)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  2. ^ "Prognoz 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (SO-M)/Intersputnik 23". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  3. ^ "Interball 1,2 (SO-M2 #1,2)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  4. ^ a b c Encyclopedia Astronautica - Prognoz Archived 2009-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b c d e "Prognoz spacecraft". www.iki.rssi.ru. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  6. ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica - Soyuz Archived 2010-01-07 at the Wayback Machine