Orlets

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Orlets (Russian : Орлец) was a series of Russian, and previously Soviet photoreconnaissance satellites derived from and intended to augment the Yantar series of spacecraft. Ten satellites were launched between 1989 and 2006; eight in the Orlets-1 configuration and two in the Orlets-2 configuration.

Orlets satellites conducted optical imaging, returning images by means of film capsules. Orlets-1 spacecraft carried eight film capsules, whilst Orlets-2 carried twenty-two. Orlets-1 were launched by Soyuz-U and Soyuz-U2 carrier rockets, with the larger Zenit-2 being used to launch Orlets-2.

Satellites

SpacecraftType [1] Launch Date (UTC) [2] Carrier rocket [2] Launch pad [2] OrbitTermination* [3] Remarks
Orlets-118 July 1989
12:10
Soyuz-U 31 August 1989
Orlets-11 October 1990
11:00
Soyuz-U2 30 November 1990
Orlets-19 October 1991
13:15
Soyuz-U2 6 December 1991
Orlets-122 December 1992
12:00:00
Soyuz-U 18 February 1993
Orlets-17 September 1993
13:25:00
Soyuz-U2 18 December 1993
Orlets-2 [4] 26 August 1994
12:00
Zenit-2 4 April 1995
Orlets-115 May 1997
12:10:00
Soyuz-U 18 September 1997
Orlets-225 September 2000
10:10
Zenit-2 20 April 2001
Orlets-112 August 2003
14:20:00
Soyuz-U 9 December 2003
Orlets-114 September 2006
13:41:00
Soyuz-U 17 November 2006
* — Orlets-1 missions terminated by self-destruct, Orlets-2 by controlled deorbit

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References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "Orlets-1 (Don, 17F12)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Orlets-2 (Yenisey)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.