Launch Failure
Liftoff Time (GMT)
09:59:00
Wednesday February 16, 1972
Failed to reach orbit.
The primary purpose of this series was to monitor Soviet ballistic missile warning radars in the far north. In their elliptical orbits they would move very slowly over the northern hemisphere for most of their orbital period, allowing interception of the radar signals. It was reported, that these satellites operated in conjunction with P-801 ELINT satellites.
Molniya Orbit
1 Payload
700 kilograms
58th
Mission
2nd
Mission of 1972
9th
Orbital launch attempt