NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Auréole 3

Launch Time
Mon Sep 21, 1981 13:10 UTC

Rocket

Tsyklon-3
RVSN USSR
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 3,032 kN
Payload to LEO: 4,100 kg
Payload to GTO: 0 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 39.27 m
Fairing Diameter: 2.7 m
Fairing Height: 9.54 m

Mission Details

Auréole 3

Oreol 3 (Auréole 3) or ARCAD 3 (Arctic Aurora Density) was a joint Soviet and French satellite that was part of the Interkosmos Series, subset AUOS-T (automatic universal orbital station terrestrial studies).

The center portion of the spacecraft was a pressurized cylinder 1.6 m in diameter and 2.7 m in height. Extending from the central body and deployed after launch were the telemetry and command antennas, the solar panels, and six booms holding various sensors away from the spacecraft. Magnetic torquing and gravity gradient were utilized to achieve three-axis stabilization. The Z axis of the spacecraft was aimed toward the center of the earth, the × axis was the direction of the spacecraft velocity vector. Both passive and active thermal control were used. Eight solar panels and 28 V batteries provided a maximum power of 250 W, and an average power of 50 W.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,030.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

Site 32/1, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

Stats

1981

96th orbital launch attempt

Tsyklon-3

10th mission
3rd mission of 1981
9th successful mission
2nd consecutive successful mission