Auréole 2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

16:30:01

Wednesday December 26, 1973

Mission Details

Auréole 2

The Auréole 1 and 2 satellites were a joint Soviet-French science mission called ARCAD (Arctic Aurora Density) to investigate physical phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere at high latitudes and to study of the nature of auroras. The satellite were built by Yuzhnoye based on their DS-U2 satellite bus and featured both Soviet and French science instruments.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

463 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Cosmos-3M

Active 1967 to 2010

OKB-586 logo

Manufacturer

OKB-586

Rocket

Height: 32.42m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 1,500 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

1,486 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 2.44m

Height: 5.72m

Stages

2

Launch Site

Site 132/1

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

Fastest Turnaround

2 days 5 hours

Stats

Cosmos-3


99th

Mission

17th

Mission of 1973

OKB-586


808th

Mission

89th

Mission of 1973

1973


114th

Orbital launch attempt