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Sfera-53 (TEKh-44, Vektor-T)
Sfera-53
Sfera-53 (also known as TEKh-44 or Vektor-T) is a small, passive satellite to measure the atmospheric density. The 53 cm diameter sphere (hence the name) was transported on 1 August 2012 on Progress-M 16M to the ISS.
Release of Sfera was made during a spacewalk (EVA) in the aft-nadir from ISS utilizing a mechanism that was attached to it prior to the EVA. Deployment occurred on 20 August 2012 at 18:29 UTC. It re-entered in late November 2012.
A second Sfera-53 satellite is to be launched in 2017.
| Nation: | Russia |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Atmosphere density |
| Operator: | |
| Contractors: | |
| Equipment: | None |
| Configuration: | 53 cm sphere |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | None |
| Lifetime: | 3 months |
| Mass: | 13 kg |
| Orbit: | 401 km × 403 km, 51.64° (#1); 398 km × 407 km, 51.64° (#2) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sfera-53 (TEKh-44, Vektor-T) | 1998-067CM | 01.08.2012 | Ba LC-1/5 | Soyuz-U | with Progress-M 16M | |
| Sfera-53 2 (TS-530-Zerkalo) | 1998-067NC | 14.06.2017 | Ba LC-31/6 | Soyuz-2-1a | with Progress-MS 06, TNS 0-2, Tanyusha-YuZGU 1, Tanyusha-YuZGU 2 |
References:
- NSSDC Master Catalog: Sfera
