Status
Success
Cosmos 2163
Launch Time
Wed Oct 09, 1991 13:15 UTC
Wed Oct 09, 1991 13:15 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
Cosmos 2163
Orlets-2 or Yenisey was an improved Orlets-1 film return reconnaissance satellite with 22 small return capsules.
Following evaluation of flight trials in April-May 1977 it was concluded that the Yantar-2K was not capable of providing strategic warning of attack. Therefore three additional variants were developed, one of them the wide-spectrum detail and survey satellite Orlets.
Orlets featured a panoramic camera and drew on features of an existing draft project designated Yantar-6K. The redesigned spacecraft was expandable, with Phase 1 (Orlets-1) being launched by the Soyuz-U2 launch vehicle, equipped with 8 film return capsules and having a design life of 60 days.
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 6,600.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit
Location
Site 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Stats
1991
75th orbital launch attempt
Soyuz U
654th mission
21st mission of 1991
635th successful mission
38th consecutive successful mission