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Overview of the science and research spacecraft developed in the former USSR:
Recent developments Russian sub launches inflatable reentry device Published: 2002 July 12; updated July 16 A Russian strategic submarine launched a ballistic missile carrying an inflatable reentry device designed to return cargo from orbit to Earth. The Volna rocket blasted off at 03:58 Moscow Time from the Ryazan strategic nuclear submarine stationed in the Barents Sea, a representative of the Russian Navy said. (The Volna is the "civilian designation" for the R-29RL submarine-based ballistic missile.) The launch targeted the Kura testing ground located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, however several days after the launch, the search team in the area was unable to locate the reentry device and its experimental payload, designated Demonstrator-2. The inflatable reentry technology, known as IRDT, was originally developed by the Khimki-based NPO Lavochkin design bureau for a Martian lander, within the Mars-96 project. Later the technology was adapted for use in low-Earth orbit and tested in three different configurations during two launches in 2000 and 2001. Only in one previous case, an experimental payload, called Demonstrator, was successfully returned to Earth. Attempts to return a solar-sailing spacecraft in 2001 failed. (See below). In 2000, the Fregat upper stage was believed to be successfully reentered the atmosphere using the IRDT, however, the search for the stage in the landing area yielded no results. Russia plans small science satellites Published: 2006 Dec. 9 On December 6, 2006, Russian space agency, Roskosmos, revealed plans for five launches in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015 within an umbrella program called "Small spacecraft for fundamental space science." The program was based on a low-cost satellite platform developed by NPO Lavochkin with non-federal funding. At the time, one or two of these missions were expected to go into lunar orbit, according to Roskosmos. This page is maintained by Anatoly Zak; last update: November 2, 2007 |
PICTURE GALLERY
The replica of the first "simplest satellite," PS-1, known in the West as Sputnik-1. Although it lacked any real scientific instruments, the spacecraft helped to determine the density of the upper atmosphere. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The Sputnik-2 launched in November 1957, carried a live dog, however the spacecraft had no reentry and soft-landing systems. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak
Sputnik-3 launched in 1958 was the first truly scientific spacecraft launched in the USSR. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak
Copyright © 2000 by Anatoly Zak
Electron-1 (top) and Electron-2 (bottom) spacecraft, launched in 1964, provided data on space radiation. Copyright © 2000 by Anatoly Zak
A full-size replica of the Proton-1 satellite (top) and a scale model of the Proton-4 -- a series of satellites built as a "fast-reaction" payloads for the test flights of the UR-500 (Proton) rocket in mid-1960s. The spacecraft were equipped with the detectors for the experiments in astrophysics. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The Vertical Space Probe reached the altitude of 4,400 kilometers after the launch from Baikonur on October 12, 1967. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak
The DS-U1-G spacecraft launched under name Cosmos-108 and 196 in 1966 and 1967 helped to determine the density of the upper atmosphere and to register UV radiation from the Sun. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak
The DS-MO spacecraft (Cosmos-149) employed unique aerodynamic stabilization system during the experiments in the upper atmosphere. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak
The DS-U2-M spacecraft, launched under name Cosmos-97 and 145 in 1965 and 1967, tested Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The DS-U3-IK-3 spacecraft represents only one in the numerous family of science spacecraft built by KB Yuzhnoe. This particular version, launched under name Intercosmos-7 in 1972, was customized to register X-ray radiation. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The DS-U2-IK-6 spacecraft, launched under name Interncosmos-14 in 1975, studied electrical and magnetic fields in the Earth orbit. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The AUOS-Z bus, first launched in 1976 became a platform for many geophysical experiments in orbit. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The Prognoz ("Forecast") spacecraft, launched for the first time in 1972, were used to study solar activity and Earth's magnitosphere. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak
The lack of funds stalled the development of the Spektr RG spacecraft designed to capture X-ray and gamma-ray radiation (top), Spektr R for radio-astronomy (middle) and Spektr UFT for observations in ultra-violet range of spectrum (bottom). Credit:IKI/Lavochkin |
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