Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
21:32:00
Friday April 24, 1981
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
125th
Mission
3rd
Mission of 1981
40th
Orbital launch attempt