Strela (satellite)
Strela (Russian: Стрела, for Arrow) is a Russian (previously Soviet) military communications satellite constellation operating in low Earth orbit. These satellites operate as mailboxes ("store-and-forward"): they remember the received messages and then resend them after the scheduled time, or by a command from the Earth. Some sources state the satellites are capable of only three months of active operation, but in accordance with others[1] they can serve for about five years. The satellites are used for transmission of encrypted messages and images.
Manufacturer | NPO PM |
---|---|
Country of origin | Soviet Union Russia |
Operator | VKS / GRU VKO |
Applications | Military communications |
Specifications | |
Design life | 5 years |
Power | 40 watts from solar panels |
Batteries | Nickel hydrogen |
Equipment | UHF transponders (NATO B / D band) Data rate of up to 64 kb/s) |
Regime | Low Earth |
Production | |
Status | Operational |
Related spacecraft | |
Derivatives | Gonets (civil satellites) |
History
The first three satellites, Kosmos 38 (reentered 8 November 1964), Kosmos 39 (reentered 17 November 1964) and Kosmos 40 (reentered 17 November 1964), were launched on 18 August 1964. Five different types of Strela satellites have been launched, designated Strela-1 (1964-1965), Strela-1M (1970-1992), Strela-2 (1965-1968), Strela-2M (1970-1994), and Strela-3 (1985-2010).[2][3][4][5][6][7] Strela satellites are also used for the civilian Gonets program. The current version of Strela, Strela-3M is also known as Rodnik.[8]
Accidents and incidents
- At 16:56 UTC on 10 February 2009, Kosmos 2251, a retired Strela-2M, collided with the operational Iridium 33 satellite.[9]
See also
References
- http://swfound.org/media/6575/swf_iridium_cosmos_collision_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf
- "Satellite Catalog Number index (updated Jan 2008)". Jonathan McDowell. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-1 (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-1M (11F625)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-2 (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-2M (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-3 (17F13)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- "Strela-3M (14F132)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- Iannotta, Becky (11 February 2009). "U.S. Satellite Destroyed in Space Collision". Space.com. Retrieved 11 February 2009.