LAUNCH CENTER
Success
Fri Sep 24 2004
Russian Space Forces
Yantar-4K2M 1
Launch Successful
LAUNCH PREVIEW
Launch Time
Loading...
(4:50 PM UTC)
Launch Window Start
Loading...
(4:50 PM UTC)
Launch Window End
Loading...
(4:50 PM UTC)
RECOVERY OVERVIEW
Location
No Recovery Specified
Type
No Recovery Specified
Rocket Details
Name:
Soyuz-U-PVBDescription:
A Russian orbital launch vehicle. A version of the Soyuz-U with safety modifications to prevent and resist fires in all stages and the upper stage avionics compartment.
MISSION OVERVIEW
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Film-return reconnaisance satellite. Maneuvered on October 1 to a 213 x 330 km orbit. Believed to be an improved Yantar-4K1 with a longer lifetime - and given the code name 'Kobalt' previously applied to the defunct Yantar-4K2 system. When re-entry was commanded after only 107 days in orbit, there was speculation that problems had arisen with the satellite. Sources claimed the satellite had some kind of control problem, which was brought under control, and the two smaller film return capsules were successfully returned.
COMPLEX OVERVIEW
Location
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Pad
16/2