Informator 1 (RS 14, AO 21, Oscar 21)

Informator 1

On 29 January 1991 a prototype satellite for the Koskon (Space Conversion) Global Space Communication System was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodome by the Kosmos launch vehicle. Designated Informator 1, the 600 kg satellite was inserted into an orbit of 960 km by 1,010 km at an inclination of 83 degrees under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Geology. Informator 1 was developed by the Polyot Production Association and the Elas Scientific Production Association and is cylindrical in nature (diameter 1.8 m, height of 4 m) with two solar panels designed to produce 1 kW average power. Informator 1 relies on gravity gradient stabilization and is projected to have an operational lifetime of 5 years or more.

The operational Koskon system was to consist of 32-45 Informator-class satellites with multiple satellites in several orbital planes. Although replacement spacecraft might continue to be launched by the Kosmos booster, the initial groups of three spacecraft were to be deployed using the Zenit-2 booster. The first operational spacecraft were be launched as early as 1997 with deployments completed by 1998-1999. Uplink (1.656-1.660 GHz) and downlink (1.555-1.559 GHz) communications will be at a rate of 4-5 MBaud, while cross-link communications at 2.0-2.1 GHz and 0.5-1 MBaud also have been advertised. C-band transmissions may also be possible. The two primary control centers will be located in the Moscow and Omsk regions (References 261, 267-270).

Informator 1 also carried the Soviet RS-14 and the German RUDAK 2 (as Oscar 21) amateur satellite transponders as piggy-back payloads. Several such amsat transponders were developed at the Kaluga Electromechanical Plant under the direction of Aleksander Papkov and were launched by the USSR during 1978-1991