Orlets-1 (Don, 17F12)

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.