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
| Spacecraft | Type[1] | Launch Date (UTC)[2] | Carrier rocket[2] | Launch pad[2] | Orbit | Termination*[3] | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kosmos 2031 | Orlets-1 | 18 July 1989 12:10 | Soyuz-U | 1/5 | 31 August 1989 | ||
| Kosmos 2101 | Orlets-1 | 1 October 1990 11:00 | Soyuz-U2 | 1/5 | 30 November 1990 | ||
| Kosmos 2163 | Orlets-1 | 9 October 1991 13:15 | Soyuz-U2 | 1/5 | 6 December 1991 | ||
| Kosmos 2225 | Orlets-1 | 22 December 1992 12:00:00 | Soyuz-U | 31/6 | 18 February 1993 | ||
| Kosmos 2262 | Orlets-1 | 7 September 1993 13:25:00 | Soyuz-U2 | 31/6 | 18 December 1993 | ||
| Kosmos 2290 | Orlets-2[4] | 26 August 1994 12:00 | Zenit-2 | 45/1 | 4 April 1995 | ||
| Kosmos 2343 | Orlets-1 | 15 May 1997 12:10:00 | Soyuz-U | 31/6 | 18 September 1997 | ||
| Kosmos 2372 | Orlets-2 | 25 September 2000 10:10 | Zenit-2 | 45/1 | 20 April 2001 | ||
| Kosmos 2399 | Orlets-1 | 12 August 2003 14:20:00 | Soyuz-U | 31/6 | 9 December 2003 | ||
| Kosmos 2423 | Orlets-1 | 14 September 2006 13:41:00 | Soyuz-U | 31/6 | 17 November 2006 |
- * — Orlets-1 missions terminated by self-destruct, Orlets-2 by controlled deorbit
References
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Orlets-1 (Don, 17F12)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Orlets-2 (Yenisey)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 5 June 2012.