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Zenit-2M (Gektor, 11F690)

Zenit-2M / Gektor with FEU-170

The soviet Zenit-2M (Gektor, 11F690) was an improved version of the Zenit-2 area surveillance reconnaissance satellite. It was part of the Vostok-based Zenit-family.

The satellites consisted of the Vostok-based service and reentry modules. The spherical reentry module returned both the cameras and the film to earth at the end of the mission. This version replaced the Ftor-2R camera system with the improved Ftor-2R3 camera. The battery powered spacecrafts were designed for flights durations of 12 to 13 days.

These satellites operated from following, typical orbits:

  • 65.0°, 204-288 km altitude
  • 62.8°, 200-294 km altitude
  • 51.8°, 202-256 km altitude
  • 71.3°, 205-316 km altitude
  • 72.8°, 203-312 km altitude
  • 81.3°, 210-232 km altitude

The Zenit-2M satellites could carry autonomous scientific and technical Nauka payloads and deploy other payloads from the front end of the spherical return capsule. Kosmos 368 carried also biological experiments as a precursor to the dedicated Bion series.

A civil earth resources version was launched as Zenit-2M/NKh (Gektor-Priroda). The Zenit-2M was later replaced by the Zenit-6U (Argon) version.

Nation: USSR
Type / Application: Reconnaissance, photo (film return type)
Operator: GRU
Contractors: TsSKB
Equipment: package
Configuration: Zenit bus
Propulsion: 11D82M ?
Power: Batteries
Lifetime: 12 days
Mass: ~6300 kg
Orbit: see above
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Kosmos 208 (Zenit-2M #1, Gektor #1) & Nauka-1KS 1L 1968-022A 21.03.1968 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 228 (Zenit-2M #2, Gektor #2) & Nauka-1KS 2L 1968-053A 21.06.1968 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 243 (Zenit-2M #3, Gektor #3) & Nauka-2KS 1L 1968-080A 23.09.1968 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 293 (Zenit-2M #4, Gektor #4) & Nauka-5KS 1L 1969-071A 16.08.1969 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 306 (Zenit-2M #5, Gektor #5) 1969-093A 24.10.1969 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 313 (Zenit-2M #6, Gektor #6) 1969-104A 03.12.1969 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 318 (Zenit-2M #7, Gektor #7) 1970-001A 09.01.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 329 (Zenit-2M #8, Gektor #8) 1970-023A 03.04.1970 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 350 (Zenit-2M #9, Gektor #9) 1970-050A 26.06.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 353 (Zenit-2M #10, Gektor #10) 1970-053A 09.07.1970 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 363 (Zenit-2M #11, Gektor #11) 1970-074A 17.09.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 366 (Zenit-2M #12, Gektor #12) 1970-078A 01.10.1970 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 368 (Zenit-2M #13, Gektor #13) & Nauka-1KS 3L 1970-080A 08.10.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 377 (Zenit-2M #14, Gektor #14) 1970-096A 11.11.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 384 (Zenit-2M #15, Gektor #15) & Nauka-2KS 2L 1970-105A 10.12.1970 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 392 (Zenit-2M #16, Gektor #16) 1971-004A 21.01.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos (400) (Zenit-2M #17, Gektor #17) & Nauka-2KS 3L 1971-F02 05.03.1971 Pl LC-43/4 F Voskhod
Kosmos 403 (Zenit-2M #18, Gektor #18) 1971-026A 02.04.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 410 (Zenit-2M #19, Gektor #19) & Nauka-8KS 1L 1971-040A 06.05.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 428 (Zenit-2M #20, Gektor #20) & Nauka-1KS 4L 1971-057A 24.06.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 431 (Zenit-2M #21, Gektor #21) 1971-065A 30.07.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 439 (Zenit-2M #22, Gektor #22) 1971-078A 21.09.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 443 (Zenit-2M #23, Gektor #23) & Nauka-8KS 2L 1971-085A 07.10.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos (462) (Zenit-2M #24, Gektor #24) & Nauka-5KS 2L 1971-F12 03.12.1971 Pl LC-43/4 F Voskhod
Kosmos 473 (Zenit-2M #25, Gektor #25) 1972-006A 03.02.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 477 (Zenit-2M #26, Gektor #26) & Nauka-14KS 1L 1972-013A 04.03.1972 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 484 (Zenit-2M #27, Gektor #27) & Nauka-5KS 3L 1972-026A 06.04.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 490 (Zenit-2M #28, Gektor #28) & Nauka-1KS 5L 1972-036A 17.05.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 493 (Zenit-2M #29, Gektor #29) 1972-042A 21.06.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 512 (Zenit-2M #30, Gektor #30) 1972-059A 28.07.1972 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 517 (Zenit-2M #31, Gektor #31) 1972-067A 30.08.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 518 (Zenit-2M #32, Gektor #32) & Nauka 1972-070A 15.09.1972 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 525 (Zenit-2M #33, Gektor #33) & Nauka-16KS 1L 1972-083A 18.10.1972 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 537 (Zenit-2M #34, Gektor #34) 1972-093A 25.11.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 547 (Zenit-2M #35, Gektor #35) 1973-006A 01.02.1973 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 552 (Zenit-2M #36, Gektor #36) & Nauka-16KS 2L 1973-016A 22.03.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 555 (Zenit-2M #37, Gektor #37) & Nauka-14KS 2L 1973-024A 25.04.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 561 (Zenit-2M #38, Gektor #43) & Nauka-9KS 1L 1973-033A 25.05.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 575 (Zenit-2M #39, Gektor #39) 1973-043A 21.06.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 578 (Zenit-2M #40, Gektor #40) 1973-051A 01.08.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 583 (Zenit-2M #41, Gektor #41) 1973-062A 30.08.1973 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 596 (Zenit-2M #42, Gektor #42) 1973-070A 03.10.1973 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod with FEU-170 1L
Kosmos 599 (Zenit-2M #43, Gektor #43) 1973-073A 15.10.1973 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 629 (Zenit-2M #44, Gektor #44) 1974-003A 24.01.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod with FEU-170 2L
Kosmos 635 (Zenit-2M #45, Gektor #45) & Nauka-17KS 1L 1974-014A 14.03.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 640 (Zenit-2M #46, Gektor #46) 1974-021A 11.04.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 653 (Zenit-2M #47, Gektor #47) 1974-031A 15.05.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 658 (Zenit-2M #48, Gektor #48) 1974-041A 06.06.1974 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 669 (Zenit-2M #49, Gektor #49) & Nauka-8KS 3L 1974-059A 26.07.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos (676) (Zenit-2M #50, Gektor #50) 1974-F06 30.08.1974 Pl LC-41/1 F Voskhod with FEU-170 3L
Kosmos 685 (Zenit-2M #51, Gektor #51) 1974-073A 20.09.1974 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 692 (Zenit-2M #52, Gektor #52) 1974-087A 01.11.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod with FEU-170 4L
Kosmos 696 (Zenit-2M #53, Gektor #53) 1974-095A 27.11.1974 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 702 (Zenit-2M #54, Gektor #54) 1975-002A 17.01.1975 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 721 (Zenit-2M #55, Gektor #55) & Nauka-5KSA 1L 1975-020A 26.03.1975 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 728 (Zenit-2M #56, Gektor #56) & Nauka-15KS 1L 1975-031A 18.04.1975 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 731 (Zenit-2M #57, Gektor #57) & Nauka-9KS 2L 1975-041A 21.05.1975 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 747 (Zenit-2M #58, Gektor #58) & Nauka-22KS 1L 1975-060A 27.06.1975 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 751 (Zenit-2M #59, Gektor #59) 1975-068A 23.07.1975 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 769 (Zenit-2M #60, Gektor #60) 1975-088A 23.09.1975 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod with FEU-170 5L
Kosmos 776 (Zenit-2M #61, Gektor #61) & Nauka-20KS 1L 1975-101A 17.10.1975 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 780 (Zenit-2M #62, Gektor #62) & Nauka-20KS 2L 1975-108A 21.11.1975 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 784 (Zenit-2M #63, Gektor #63) & Nauka-22KS 2L 1975-113A 03.12.1975 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 799 (Zenit-2M #64, Gektor #64) 1976-009A 29.01.1976 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 809 (Zenit-2M #65, Gektor #65) 1976-025A 18.03.1976 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 813 (Zenit-2M #66, Gektor #66) 1976-033A 09.04.1976 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 819 (Zenit-2M #67, Gektor #67) 1976-045A 20.05.1976 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 834 (Zenit-2M #68, Gektor #68) 1976-058A 24.06.1976 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 840 (Zenit-2M #69, Gektor #69) 1976-068A 14.07.1976 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 848 (Zenit-2M #70, Gektor #70) & Nauka-19KS 1L 1976-082A 12.08.1976 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 856 (Zenit-2M #71, Gektor #71) & Nauka 1976-096A 22.09.1976 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 865 (Zenit-2M #72, Gektor #72) 1976-109A 01.11.1976 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 879 (Zenit-2M #73, Gektor #73) 1976-119A 09.12.1976 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 889 (Zenit-2M #74, Gektor #74) 1977-003A 20.01.1977 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 898 (Zenit-2M #75, Gektor #75) & Nauka 1977-020A 17.03.1977 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 904 (Zenit-2M #76, Gektor #76) 1977-028A 20.04.1977 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 914 (Zenit-2M #77, Gektor #77) & Nauka 1977-043A 31.05.1977 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 922 (Zenit-2M #78, Gektor #78) 1977-058A 30.06.1977 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 935 (Zenit-2M #79, Gektor #79) 1977-073A 29.07.1977 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 947 (Zenit-2M #80, Gektor #80) 1977-081A 27.08.1977 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 950 (Zenit-2M #81, Gektor #81) 1977-086A 13.09.1977 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 966 (Zenit-2M #82, Gektor #82) & Nauka 1977-115A 12.12.1977 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 973 (Zenit-2M #83, Gektor #83) & Nauka 1977-124A 27.12.1977 Ba LC-31/6 ? Soyuz-U
Kosmos 984 (Zenit-2M #84, Gektor #84) 1978-006A 13.01.1978 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 992 (Zenit-2M #85, Gektor #85) 1978-025A 04.03.1978 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 995 (Zenit-2M #86, Gektor #86) 1978-030A 17.03.1978 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1002 (Zenit-2M #87, Gektor #87) 1978-037A 06.04.1978 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1004 (Zenit-2M #88, Gektor #88) & Nauka-23KS 2L 1978-043A 05.05.1978 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1012 (Zenit-2M #89, Gektor #89) 1978-054A 25.05.1978 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1032 (Zenit-2M #90, Gektor #90) & Nauka-25KS 2L 1978-088A 19.09.1978 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1044 (Zenit-2M #91, Gektor #91) 1978-097A 17.10.1978 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1060 (Zenit-2M #92, Gektor #92) 1978-111A 08.12.1978 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1061 (Zenit-2M #93, Gektor #93) & Nauka-32KS 1L 1978-114A 14.12.1978 Pl LC-43/4 Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1070 (Zenit-2M #94, Gektor #94) & Nauka-30KS 1L 1979-001A 11.01.1979 Pl LC-43/3 Soyuz-U
Kosmos (1078) (Zenit-2M #95, Gektor #95) & Nauka-32KS 2L 1979-F01 16.02.1979 Pl LC-41/1 F Soyuz-U
Kosmos 1090 (Zenit-2M #96, Gektor #96) 1979-027A 31.03.1979 Pl LC-41/1 Soyuz-U

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