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Conference 7.286::space

Title:Space Exploration
Notice:Shuttle launch schedules, see Note 6
Moderator:PRAGMA::GRIFFIN
Created:Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:974
Total number of notes:18843

355.0. "A Soviet Spaceplane Test?" by IMGAWN::BIRO () Wed Oct 07 1987 11:31

    It appears that the USSR launched something into a 51.6 deg inc
    orbit, simular to MIR's orbit and normally not used except for
    man related mission.  Launch appears to have been on the 1st of
    Oct 1987 at about 1709 utc. Nasa elements are only showing a B and
    C object, no primary A object
    
    I can only think of two other missions that use the same orbit
    
    1) the space plane
     kosmos 1373 1982-054a 204x158 km 88.11 min at 50.61 deg
     kosmos 1445 1983-016a 224x177 km 88.56 min at 50.69 deg
     kosmos 1517 1983-125a 221x180 km 88.51 min at 50.66 deg
     kosmos 1614 1984-126a 223x176 km 88.48 min at 50.67 deg
    
    2) obj 1985-53 a b c
     was a mysterious obj, never really id, one though had it
     as an ICBM test then somehow went orbital and all 3 (abc)
     decayed in a few days
                  
    3) possible there was a test of a new reconance unit in a 51.6
     deg orbit not sure  but only once seveal years ago
    
    has any heard or known any more about this launch
                                                       
    there is a 4th but hightly unlikly the Venus probes started
    in such a parking orbit and part A was the planet mission
    
    john
    
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355.1MONSTR::HUGHESWalk like an AlienWed Oct 07 1987 12:158
    Jane's shows 1985-53 at an inclination of 64.4 and a description
    of a possible launch test of a modified Proton. Any indication of
    launch vehicle or site?
    
    Cosmos 1669 entered a similar  orbit and docked briefly with Salyut-7
    in Jul 85.
    
    gary
355.2Sailplane / TyuratamIMGAWN::BIROWed Oct 07 1987 13:0911
    re:1
    with inc of 51.6 deg it would most likly be Tyuratam USSR
        
    an yes 86-53 did have a higher inc of 64.4 
          
    
    best fit is the sailplane, an that could explain where there
    is no A obj, it has allready reentry as other typical flight
    of the space plane did
    
    
355.3MONSTR::HUGHESWalk like an AlienThu Oct 08 1987 12:429
    The logs show launches to that inclination from both Tyuratum and
    Plesetsk, hence the question.
    
    Please, it isn't a sailplane. 'Space plane' or lifting body maybe,
    but not a sailplane. Any indication of size of the other objects?
    If so, if one of them is an upper stage it may be possible to work
    backwards to determine the launch vehicle.
    
    gary
355.4Winged Twins?PARITY::BIROWed Feb 01 1989 13:1918
    In the February 89 issue of ASTRA an interesting article
    under WINGED_THINGS strengthen the case the the Soviet
    Space plane was a test bed for their Shuttle.
    
    The Novosti reporter points out that laboratory aircraft
    and reusable spacecraft models were flown thousands of times.
    Lastly, explains Chernyshov, to evaluate Buran's heat insulation
    system, "four satellites representing aerospace vehicles were
    put into orbit" prior to the spacecraft's maiden voyage.  That
    satement offically clears up the mysterious use of mini-spaceplanes
    flown by the Soviets between 1982 and 1984.
    
    
    The above was what was on page 46 of ASTRA, I am a little
    more skeptical and say time will tell, but it does fit.
    
    john