LAUNCH CENTER

Success

Fri Sep 24 2004

Russian Space Forces

Yantar-4K2M 1

Launch Successful

LAUNCH PREVIEW

Launch Time

(4:50 PM UTC)

Launch Window Start

(4:50 PM UTC)

Launch Window End

(4:50 PM UTC)

RECOVERY OVERVIEW

Location

No Recovery Specified

Type

No Recovery Specified

Rocket Details

Name:

Soyuz-U-PVB

Description:

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