Orlets-1 or Don was an soviet (later Russian) film return reconnaissance satellite, which featured 8 small capsules to return the film.
Following evaluation of flight trials in April-May 1977 it was concluded that the Yantar-2K was not capable of providing strategic warning of attack. Therefore three additional variants were developed, one of them the wide-spectrum detail and survey satellite Orlets.
Orlets featured a panoramic camera and drew on features of an existing draft project designated Yantar-6K. The redesigned spacecraft was expandable, with Phase 1 (Orlets-1) being launched by the Soyuz-U2 launch vehicle, equipped with 8 film return capsules and having a design life of 60 days. At the end of the mission, the main satellite was detonated in orbit and was not recovered. Later flights used the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, when the Soyuz-U2 was no longer available.
Phase 2 (Orlets-2) was launched by the much more powerful Zenit-2 launch vehicle, was equipped with 22 return capsules, and had a 180 day design life.
Nation: | USSR / Russia |
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Type / Application: | Reconnaissance, photo (film return) |
Operator: | GRU |
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Lifetime: | 60 days |
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Orbit: |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Kosmos 2031 (Orlets-1 #1, Don #1) | 1989-056A | 18.07.1989 | Ba LC-1/5 | Soyuz-U | ||
Kosmos 2101 (Orlets-1 #2, Don #2) | 1990-087A | 01.10.1990 | Ba LC-1/5 | Soyuz-U2 | ||
Kosmos 2163 (Orlets-1 #3, Don #3) | 1991-071A | 09.10.1991 | Ba LC-1/5 | Soyuz-U2 | ||
Kosmos 2225 (Orlets-1 #4, Don #4) | 1992-091A | 22.12.1992 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-U | ||
Kosmos 2262 (Orlets-1 #5, Don #5) | 1993-057A | 07.09.1993 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-U2 | ||
Kosmos 2343 (Orlets-1 #6, Don #6) | 1997-024A | 15.05.1997 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-U | ||
Kosmos 2399 (Orlets-1 #7, Don #7) | 2003-035A | 12.08.2003 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-U | ||
Kosmos 2423 (Orlets-1 #8, Don #8) | 2006-039A | 14.09.2006 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-U |