The Sphere (GUUKOS Index - 11F621) is a series of the first Soviet geodesic satellites launched from 1968 to 1978. They were intended to create a single coordinate system of the entire surface of the globe, establish geodesic connections between continents and islands, clarify the geophysical parameters of the Earth. Satellites of the Sphere series ensured the creation of a geodetic network over the entire surface of the globe with an accuracy of several meters. The shape and dimensions of the Earth, the parameters of the gravitational field were specified, a model of the Earth was created. A satellite geodetic complex was created on the basis of satellites. Thanks to this system, a single coordinate system of the globe was created with the origin in the center of mass of the Earth, the orientation elements with the coordinate system of 1942 (CK-42) were refined, the geophysical parameters of the planet were refined, and the Earth model of 1977 was created . All this made it possible to several times improve the efficiency of consumer use of geodetic information and reduce the time for equipping the national geodetic network with triangulation signs. The refinement of the parameters of the figure of the Earth and its gravitational field was required primarily for the normal functioning of the low-orbit Cyclone / Gulf navigation system. A total of 18 Sfera satellites were launched.
The complex was in service in 1973-1980.
Content
Development and Operation
The Sfera geodesic complex was developed by order of the Military Topographical Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR (VTU GS).
The leading enterprise for the development of the spacecraft was appointed NPO Applied Mechanics named after academician MF Reshetnev ( Krasnoyarsk-26 ). Work on the satellite began in 1963. NII-885 (later RNII KP , now RKS OJSC ) [to clarify (no comment specified) ] , Tomsk branch of the All-Union Research Institute of Electromechanics and others were involved in the creation of the spacecraft. The pulsed light signaling was designed by the Krasnoyarsk Radio Engineering Plant ( Production Association Radio Technical Plant , Krasnoyarsk) [1] [2] .
The first spacecraft of the Sphere type ( Cosmos-203 ) was launched on February 20, 1968. The spacecraft worked in orbit for 1 year and 3 months, which is more than 6 months of the design life of the project. Flight tests of the Sfera spacecraft were completed in 1972.
A total of 18 spacecraft Sphere were launched, 17 of them successfully. The second launch, June 4, 1968, was unsuccessful, the satellite did not go into orbit. The last of the launched spacecraft ( Cosmos-1067 ) was put into orbit on December 26, 1978 and worked until May 1, 1980.
Run List
| Launch of Sphere spacecraft | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № KA | Satellite | Launch date | ||||
| one | Cosmos-203 | 02/20/1968 | ||||
| 2 | - | 06/04/1968 | ||||
| 3 | Cosmos-256 | 11/30/1968 | ||||
| four | Cosmos-272 | 03/17/1969 | ||||
| five | Cosmos-312 | 11/24/1969 | ||||
| 6 | Cosmos-409 | 04/28/1971 | ||||
| 7 | Cosmos-457 | 11/20/1971 | ||||
| eight | Cosmos-480 | 03/25/1972 | ||||
| 9 | Cosmos-539 | 12/21/1972 | ||||
| ten | Cosmos-585 | 09/08/1973 | ||||
| eleven | Cosmos-650 | 04/29/1974 | ||||
| 12 | Cosmos-675 | 08/29/1974 | ||||
| 13 | Cosmos-708 | 02/12/1975 | ||||
| 14 | Cosmos-770 | 09/24/1975 | ||||
| 15 | Cosmos-842 | 07.21.1976 | ||||
| sixteen | Cosmos-911 | 05/25/1977 | ||||
| 17 | Cosmos-963 | 11/24/1977 | ||||
| 18 | Cosmos-1067 | 12/26/1978 | ||||
All launches were made by the Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from the Plesetsk cosmodrome , from the launch pad 132/1 and 132/2 [1] .
Apparatus
The device has a cylindrical shape, designed on the basis of the satellite platform KAUR-1 . And, accordingly, it possesses such features of the KAUR platform as:
- non-oriented solar panels (SB);
- the combination of the design of the thermostatically controlled frame of the safety system and the radiator of the thermal control system;
- lack of propulsion ;
- uniaxial magneto-gravitational orientation system (KA 11F621 has no orientation system);
Characteristics
- Weight - 750 kg [2]
- Power BOT - 100 W
- Dimensions - 3 × 2.04 m
Equipment
The satellite was equipped with on-board geodetic equipment, combined with the command and measuring radio equipment, as well as a system of pulsed light signaling with a powerful flash lamp. The impulse lamp ensured the visibility of the spacecraft against a starry sky. Such light signaling made it possible to determine the position of the spacecraft relative to the stars with an accuracy of 3-6 angular seconds. The radio equipment on the spacecraft provided the determination of the satellite Doppler velocity with an accuracy of 0.1 m / s. The first Sphere vehicles were launched into circular orbits with a height of about 1,200 km with an inclination of 74 degrees. Subsequent vehicles were launched into orbits up to 1,300–1500 km in order to reduce the disturbing effects of atmospheric residues. Circulation period ~ 116 minutes.
See also
- Geo-IK
- Sphere (microsatellite) - a microsatellite launched from the ISS by members of the ISS-32 crew, Yuri Malenchenko and Gennady Padalka, during spacewalk on August 20, 2012.
- Sphere-12L - reconnaissance satellite, produced by the Arsenal design bureau.