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Zenit-4M (Rotor, 11F691)

Zenit-4M / Rotor [GDK]

The soviet Zenit-4M (Rotor, 11F691) was an improved version of the Zenit-4 high resolution reconnaissance satellite and 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-4 camera system with the improved Ftor-6 camera. Additionaly they were the first series to incorporate the reignitable maneuvering module on top of the return capsule. Reportedly they also featured an thermal protection screen on the service module, a thermal baffle for the optics and aerodynamic stabilizers to protect them from atmospheric molecular heating during their very low apogee passes. They were designed for flights durations of 13 days.

These satellites operated typically from 65° inclination orbits with an initial altitude of 203-290 km. During the mission, they maneuvered to a low perigee orbit of 178-312 km altitude. Also missions with inclinations of 51.6°, 72.8° and 81.3° were flown.

Nation: USSR
Type / Application: Reconnaissance, photo (film return type)
Operator: GRU
Contractors: TsSKB
Equipment: Ftor-6 camera package
Configuration: Zenit bus
Propulsion: 11D82M; S5.120 (maneuver module)
Power: Batteries
Lifetime: 13 days
Mass: ~6300 kg
Orbit: see above
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Kosmos 251 (Zenit-4M #1 Rotor #1) 1968-096A 31.10.1968 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 264 (Zenit-4M #2 Rotor #2) 1969-008A 23.01.1969 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 280 (Zenit-4M #3 Rotor #3) 1969-040A 23.04.1969 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 333 (Zenit-4M #4 Rotor #4) 1970-030A 15.04.1970 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 360 (Zenit-4M #5 Rotor #5) 1970-068A 29.08.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 361 (Zenit-4M #6 Rotor #6) 1970-071A 08.09.1970 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 370 (Zenit-4M #7 Rotor #7) 1970-082A 09.10.1970 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 376 (Zenit-4M #8 Rotor #8) 1970-092A 30.10.1970 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 386 (Zenit-4M #9 Rotor #9) 1970-110A 15.12.1970 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 390 (Zenit-4M #10 Rotor #10) 1971-001A 12.01.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 396 (Zenit-4M #11 Rotor #11) 1971-014A 18.02.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 399 (Zenit-4M #12 Rotor #12) 1971-017A 03.03.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 401 (Zenit-4M #13 Rotor #13) 1971-023A 27.03.1971 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 406 (Zenit-4M #14 Rotor #14) 1971-029A 14.04.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 420 (Zenit-4M #15 Rotor #15) 1971-043A 18.05.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 424 (Zenit-4M #16 Rotor #16) 1971-048A 28.05.1971 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos (429) (Zenit-4M #17, Rotor #17) 1971-F05 25.06.1971 Pl LC-43/4 F Voskhod
Kosmos 429 (Zenit-4M #18 Rotor #18) 1971-061A 20.07.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 430 (Zenit-4M #19 Rotor #19) 1971-062A 23.07.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 432 (Zenit-4M #20 Rotor #20) 1971-066A 05.08.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos (435) (Zenit-4M #21, Rotor #21) 1971-F09 19.08.1971 Ba LC-31/6 F Voskhod
Kosmos 441 (Zenit-4M #22 Rotor #22) 1971-081A 28.09.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 442 (Zenit-4M #23 Rotor #23) 1971-084A 29.09.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 452 (Zenit-4M #24 Rotor #24) 1971-088A 14.10.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 454 (Zenit-4M #25 Rotor #25) 1971-094A 02.11.1971 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 456 (Zenit-4M #26 Rotor #26) 1971-098A 19.11.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 463 (Zenit-4M #27 Rotor #27) 1971-107A 06.12.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 464 (Zenit-4M #28 Rotor #28) 1971-108A 10.12.1971 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 466 (Zenit-4M #29 Rotor #29) 1971-112A 16.12.1971 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 471 (Zenit-4M #30 Rotor #30) 1972-001A 12.01.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 474 (Zenit-4M #31 Rotor #31) 1972-008A 16.02.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 478 (Zenit-4M #32 Rotor #32) 1972-015A 15.03.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 483 (Zenit-4M #33 Rotor #33) 1972-024A 03.04.1972 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 486 (Zenit-4M #34 Rotor #34) 1972-030A 14.04.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 491 (Zenit-4M #35 Rotor #35) 1972-038A 25.05.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 492 (Zenit-4M #36 Rotor #36) 1972-040A 09.06.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 495 (Zenit-4M #37 Rotor #37) 1972-044A 23.06.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 499 (Zenit-4M #38 Rotor #38) 1972-051A 06.07.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 503 (Zenit-4M #39 Rotor #39) 1972-056A 19.07.1972 Pl LC-43/3 Voskhod
Kosmos 513 (Zenit-4M #40 Rotor #40) 1972-060A 02.08.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos (518) (Zenit-4M #41, Rotor #41) 1972-F05 02.09.1972 Pl LC-43/4 F Voskhod
Kosmos 519 (Zenit-4M #42 Rotor #42) 1972-071A 16.09.1972 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 522 (Zenit-4M #43 Rotor #43) 1972-077A 04.10.1972 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 538 (Zenit-4M #44 Rotor #44) 1972-099A 14.12.1972 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 543 (Zenit-4M #45 Rotor #45) 1973-002A 11.01.1973 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 548 (Zenit-4M #46 Rotor #46) 1973-008A 08.02.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 551 (Zenit-4M #47 Rotor #47) 1973-012A 06.03.1973 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 560 (Zenit-4M #48 Rotor #48) 1973-031A 23.05.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 563 (Zenit-4M #49 Rotor #49) 1973-036A 06.06.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 572 (Zenit-4M #50 Rotor #50) 1973-038A 10.06.1973 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos (577) (Zenit-4M #51, Rotor #51) 1973-F05 04.07.1973 Pl LC-43/3 F Voskhod
Kosmos 577 (Zenit-4M #52 Rotor #52) 1973-048A 25.07.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 579 (Zenit-4M #53 Rotor #53) 1973-055A 21.08.1973 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 581 (Zenit-4M #54 Rotor #54) 1973-059A 24.08.1973 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 584 (Zenit-4M #55 Rotor #55) 1973-063A 06.09.1973 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 598 (Zenit-4M #56 Rotor #56) 1973-072A 10.10.1973 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 600 (Zenit-4M #57 Rotor #57) 1973-074A 16.10.1973 Pl LC-43/4 Voskhod
Kosmos 603 (Zenit-4M #58 Rotor #58) 1973-079A 27.10.1973 Pl LC-41/1 Voskhod
Kosmos 609 (Zenit-4M #59 Rotor #59) 1973-092A 21.11.1973 Ba LC-1/5 Voskhod
Kosmos 632 (Zenit-4M #60 Rotor #60) 1974-006A 12.02.1974 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod
Kosmos 667 (Zenit-4M #61 Rotor #61) 1974-057A 25.07.1974 Ba LC-31/6 Voskhod

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