US-A
US-A (Upravlenniye Sputnik Aktivny) were active radar satellites for ocean surveillance. The high power consumtion of the active radar required a nuclear reactor as power source. The satellites were known as RORSAT in the west.
At the end of the mission, the reactor compartment is separated and boosted ito a higher storage orbit. Beginning with Kosmos 1176, the reactor core was also ejected to avoid radioactive material reaching the ground in the event of reentry.
In 1973, an US-A satellite failed to reach orbit and burned up. Two missions failed to boost their reactor into the safe orbit. Kosmos 954's reactor reentered over Canada and polluted an area of 124000 m². Kosmos 1402 ejected the reactor core before reentry. The unprotected core burned up over the south Atlantic.
Nation: | USSR |
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Type / Application: | Ocean surveillance, active radar |
Operator: | |
Contractors: | |
Equipment: | Radar |
Configuration: | US-Bus |
Propulsion: | |
Power: | BES-5 nuclear reactor |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | |
Orbit: |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Kosmos 367 (US-A #1) | 1970-079A | 03.10.1970 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 402 (US-A #2) | 1971-025A | 01.04.1971 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 469 (US-A #3) | 1971-117A | 25.12.1971 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 516 (US-A #4) | 1972-066A | 21.08.1972 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos (556) (US-A #5) | 1973-F01 | 25.04.1973 | Ba LC-90 | F | Tsiklon-2 | |
Kosmos 626 (US-A #6) | 1973-108A | 27.12.1973 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 651 (US-A #7) | 1974-029A | 15.05.1974 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 654 (US-A #8) | 1974-032A | 17.05.1974 | Ba LC-90/19 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 723 (US-A #9) | 1975-024A | 02.04.1975 | Ba LC-90/20 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 724 (US-A #10) | 1975-025A | 07.04.1975 | Ba LC-90/20 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 785 (US-A #11) | 1975-116A | 12.12.1975 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 860 (US-A #12) | 1976-103A | 17.10.1976 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 861 (US-A #13) | 1976-104A | 21.10.1976 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 952 (US-A #14) | 1977-088A | 16.09.1977 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 954 (US-A #15) | 1977-090A | 18.09.1977 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1176 (US-A #16) | 1980-034A | 29.04.1980 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1249 (US-A #17) | 1981-021A | 05.03.1981 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1266 (US-A #18) | 1981-037A | 21.04.1981 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1299 (US-A #19) | 1981-081A | 24.08.1981 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1365 (US-A #20) | 1982-043A | 14.05.1982 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1372 (US-A #21) | 1982-052A | 01.06.1982 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1402 (US-A #22) | 1982-084A | 30.08.1982 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1412 (US-A #23) | 1982-099A | 02.10.1982 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1579 (US-A #24) | 1984-069A | 29.06.1984 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1607 (US-A #25) | 1984-112A | 31.10.1984 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1670 (US-A #26) | 1985-064A | 01.08.1985 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1677 (US-A #27) | 1985-075A | 23.08.1985 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1736 (US-A #28) | 1986-024A | 21.03.1986 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1771 (US-A #29) | 1986-062A | 20.08.1986 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1860 (US-A #30) | 1987-052A | 18.06.1987 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1900 (US-A #31) | 1987-101A | 12.12.1987 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 | ||
Kosmos 1932 (US-A #32) | 1988-019A | 14.03.1988 | Ba LC-90 | Tsiklon-2 |