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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0145.PDF
Soviets orbit laser target A new satellite, Etalon, has been launched from Baikonur by the Soviet Union, along with two Glonass navigation satellites, aboard a Proton booster, on January 10. Elaton is a passive optical reflector for laser ranging, consisting of 306 cube corner retroreflectors. It will be used to collect experimental data for solving geodesy, geo- dynamics, and geophysics problems. The Soviets say Etalon will also "secure the reception of data to raise the accuracy of the determination and predic tion of the movement of spacecraft". The movements of satellites—and ballistic mis siles—can be affected by gravitational anomalies, and Etalon will be used to measure these. The satellite is a sphere 1 • 3m in diameter, weighing 1,415kg, and was injected into a circular 65° orbit at 19,400km, along with the Glonass satellites. According to the Belgian Space Informa tion Centre, the Soviets plan to operate several Etalon-class satellites in orbits with periods varying from 1 • 5 to 24 hours. Space nuclear power tested The Soviet Union has revealed that it has tested a new thermo- emission nuclear generator in space. Two lOkW powerplants were launched aboard Cosmos satellites in 1987. One operated for a year and the other for six months as part of the Soviet Topaz project. Soviet radar ocean surveil lance satellites operate using a similar powerplant. Because they fly in low orbits and operate for a short period, the nuclear powerplant is generally boosted to a height of about 900km, where the fission pro duct can decay safely over a period of 350 years. The two Cosmos satellites carrying the Topaz payloads appear to have been a new version of the hitherto low- orbiting, solar-powered passive electronic ocean surveillance satellites Cosmos 1818 and 1867, which were sent into 800km altitude orbits. This breed of surveillance satellite may be those referred to by President Gorbachev last year, and said to be equipped with a radar capable of distin guishing between nuclear- powered and non-nuclear powered submarines. South Africans eye space programme The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has submitted to the Government a feasibility study with proposals for a national space programme. The study was requested by technology minister Danie Steyn, who last year told his national parlia ment that the initiative was being made "to optimise space technology for the benefit of South Africa." Steyn said that South Africa and "other countries" had expressed an interest in the commercial potential of a national space programme. It has been suggested that Israel has discussed the possibility of launching its satellites from South Africa. The study includes proposals for communications satellites "to extend the country's information-handling network, with particular emphasis on education", remote sensing, and microgravity experimentation. South Africa is also consider ing developing its own launch vehicle and launch site. Soviet Union launched fewer satellites in 1988 The Soviet Union launched seven satellites between December 10 and 29, bringing to 90 the total of its satellite launches in 1988, compared with 26 by the rest of the world. The Soviet total is its lowest for ten years, but this is not regarded as significant. Analyst Geoff Perry of the Kettering Space Group says that the lower rate is simply an indication that the Soviet Union does not need to replace as many satellites. No civilian navigation satellites were replaced in 1988, for example. There were 48 Soviet launches from Plesetsk and 52 to Baikonur in 1988. Of the rest of the world's total of 26, 11 were by the , USA—four from Cape Canaveral, including two Shuttles, . and seven from Vandenberg. The Italian San Marco satel lite was also launched by the USA, from the San Marco off shore platform near Kenya, and Israel entered the space stakes in 1988 by launching Offeq-1. Japan launched two satellites from Tanegshima, and there were four Chinese launches, two from Xichang, one from Juiquan, and one from the new base in Shanxi Province. Arianespace successfully des patched seven Ariane boosters from Kourou, including the first Ariane 4s. The number of trackable objects in space, mainly in Earth orbit, reached 7,251 on September 30 last year, accord ing to Nasa's latest satellite situ ation report. Of that total, 544 were US spacecraft and 1,087 were from the Soviet Union. Of the 5,446 pieces of trackable debris, the Soviet Union has contributed 2,271 and the USA 2,634. The total number of objects launched since Sputnik 1 in 1957 is 19,567, comprising 9,194 pieces of debris and 2,844 payloads. Of the 1,805 payloads still in space, about 100 are still operating. Recent Soviet launches Date Dec 10 Dec 16 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 25 Dec 28 Dec 29 Satellite Type Ekran comsat Cosmos 1984 photo recon. Molniya 3 . . .comsat Cosmos 1985 :'-. * Progress 39 V tanker Molniya 1 '.'• comsat Cosmos 1986 ' photo recon. Launch Site/Vehicle Baikonur/Proton Plesetsk/Molniya Plesetsk/Molniya Plesetsk/Tsyklon Baikonur/Soyuz Baikonur/Molniyat Baikonur/Soyuz * First radar calibration satellite launched on a Tsyklon and into a 73° orbit. t Launch site may have been Plesetsk. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 21 January 1989 31
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