world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 1984 version: 10 ... · maneuvering unit (mmu) in preparation...

WORLD SPACECRAFT DIGEST by Jos Heyman 1984

Version: 10 January 2016 © Copyright Jos Heyman

1984 001A (14611) Name: Kosmos-1522 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 1463 x 1495 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1984 001B (14612) Name: Kosmos-1523 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001C (14613) Name: Kosmos-1524 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001D (14614) Name: Kosmos-1525 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001E (14615) Name: Kosmos-1526 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001F (14616) Name: Kosmos-1527 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001G (14617) Name: Kosmos-1528 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 001H (14618) Name: Kosmos-1529 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 002A (14622) Name: Kosmos-1530 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 January 1984 Re-entry: 25 January 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 357 x 416 km, inclination: 72.8° Zenit 6 military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1976 111A.

1984 003A (14624) Name: Kosmos-1531 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 985 x 1013 km, inclination: 82.9° Parus military navigational satellite as described for 1974 105A.

1984 004A (14634) Name: Kosmos-1532 Country: USSR Launch date: 13 January 1984 Re-entry: 26 February 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 166 x 351 km, inclination: 67.1° Yantar 4K2 military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1981 080A.

1984 005A (14659) Name: BS-2A Country: Japan Launch date: 23 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: Nu 2

Orbit: geostationary at 110°E

The Broadcasting Satellite (BS)-2A, also known as Yuri-2A, was an operational development of BSE (1978 039A). The 670 kg satellite was built by Toshiba/GE using an AS3000 platform and carried three transponders in the Ku band. It was to provide direct broadcasting services but preliminary operations ceased on 23 March 1984 after the failure of attitude control systems and electronic systems.

1984 006A (14666) Name: Kosmos-1533 Country: USSR Launch date: 26 January 1984 Re-entry: 9 February 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U2


1984 007A (14668) Name: Kosmos-1534 Country: USSR Launch date: 26 January 1984 Re-entry: 20 September 1990 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 469 x 517 km, inclination: 65.8° Vektor minor military satellite as described for 1974 044A.

1984 008A (14670) Name: SW Country: China Launch date: 29 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3

Orbit: 362 x 6481 km, inclination: 36.0° Shiyan Weixing (SW) was an experimental satellite which was intended to be placed in a geostationary orbit

at 125°E but failed to achieve this orbit due to failure of the third stage of the launch vehicle. Also referred to as Dong Fang Hong (DFH) 2-1, the satellite carried scientific instruments to measure the electron and protons in a geostationary orbit. The instruments on the 915 kg satellite included a semiconductor electron detector, a semiconductor proton detector, a solar X-ray detector and a potentiometer.

1984 009A (14675) Name: Chalet-4 Country: USA Launch date: 31 January 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan 34D

Orbit: geostationary at ?° Military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1978 058A. It has also been suggested that this satellite was the first in the Vortex series as described for 1979 086A. Also known as Ops-0441 as well as the USSR designation RER-2A-1.

1984 010A (14679) Name: Kosmos-1535 Country: USSR Launch date: 2 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 011A (14681) Name: STS-41B Country: USA Launch date: 3 February 1984 Re-entry: 11 February 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS

Orbit: 275 x 293 km, inclination: 28.5° Crewed spaceflight with astronauts V. Brand (Cmdr.), R. Gibson (Pilot), B. McCandless, R. McNair and R. Stewart (all Mission Specialists) using the orbiter Challenger as described for 1981 034A. The flight programme of the Space Shuttle has been subject to many changes. Initially the flight identification system used a straight numerical series but in 1984 a new system of designation was introduced in which the first digit was derived from the last digit of the fiscal year, which runs from October to October, followed by a second digit indicating the launch site (1 = Cape Canaveral and 2 = Vandenberg) whilst this was followed by a letter to identify the particular flight. At the time of the introduction of this system of designation, STS numbers up to -20 had already been assigned. Not all these flights resulted in new numbers as some had been cancelled before the redesignation took place. The redesignations, including the status of the flights up to STS-20, were: STS-9 STS-41A (1983 116A) (retrospectively redesignated) STS-10 cancelled before redesignation STS-11 STS-41B (1984 011A) STS-12 cancelled before redesignation STS-13 STS-41C (1984 034A) STS-14 STS-41E, which was eventually cancelled STS-15 STS-41F, which was eventually cancelled STS-16 STS-51C (1985 010A) STS-17 STS-41G (1984 108A) STS-18 STS-41H, which was eventually cancelled STS-19 STS-51B (1985 034A) STS-20 mission details not yet finalised. Subsequent changes to mission details have been discussed with the specific mission. The purpose of the STS-41B mission was to launch a number of satellites as well as test the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) in preparation for the SMM rescue mission scheduled for STS-41C (1984 034A). The Manned Maneuvering Unit, built by Martin Marietta, was a self contained EVA module for one astronaut. It had a height of 1.25 m, width of 0.83 m and depth of 1.21 m with a mass of 153 kg including 11.8 kg of nitrogen thruster fuel. It had a carrying capacity of 346 kg and was propelled by 24 thrusters. Although a top speed of 64 km/h would have been possible, the operating speed was 1.6 km/h. Other experiments, some of which were mounted on the SPAS-1 structure as described for 1983 059F, were: 1. the Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR) as described for STS-3 (1982 022A); 2. the Acoustic Containerless Experiment System (ACES) to undertake microgravity tests of gas

transport phenomena in a three axis levitation furnace; 3. the Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Package (ACIP)-10 as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 4. the High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP)-4 as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 5. the Remote Monitoring Experiment (RME) as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 6. the Shuttle Student Involvement Program experiment SE81-10 to investigate the effect of zero-gravity

on six arthritic rats which were kept in the Animal Enclosure Module; 7. several Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A),

including:

• DTO-705: Shuttle Launch Configuration Test; 8. several Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 9. five Getaway specials as described for STS-3 (1982 022A):

• G309: Cosmic Ray Upset Experiment (CRUX) as described for STS-8 (1983 089A), also known as SD-301 and S84-5;

• G051: Arc Lamp Research, an experiment by GTE Laboratories;

• G349: the Contamination Monitor Package (CMP) as described for STS-3 (1982 022A);

• G008: a number of experiments from the Utah State University, including studies on radish seed germination, crystallisation of three different protein samples, a soldering experiment and the testing of a heat pipe to be used in future space experiments;

• G004: a number of experiments by the AIAA Utah section, including studies on spore growth, three dimensional Brownian motion and dimensional stability, capillary action in absence of gravity, capillary waves on a water surface and thermo capillary flow in colums of melted wax;

10. the Iso-electric Focusing Experiment (IFE) to gather data on electro-osmosis in space; and 11. two Cinema 360 cameras. The Westar-6 (1984 011B) and Palapa-4 (1984 011D) satellites were deployed on respectively 3 February 1984 and 6 February 1984, but both failed to achieve their correct orbit. The IRT experiment (1984 011C) was deployed on 5 February 1984 and was also unsuccessful.

McCandless and Stewart tested the MMU in an EVA of 5 hours, 55 minutes on 7 February 1984 and 6 hours, 17 minutes on 9 February 1984 at which they reached distances of approximately 100 m from the orbiter. On the first EVA both astronauts used the first MMU whilst on the second EVA they both used the second MMU. During the second EVA they used the SPAS-1 structure, which was the same as that one carried on STS-7 (1983 059A), in the payload bay to rehearse SMM recovery techniques. It was originally intended to extend the SPAS-1 on the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) of the orbiter but an electrical fault in the RMS prevented this and instead simulated repairs were made. The astronauts also tested the feasibility of transferring hydrazine fuel to Landsat type satellites. The flight lasted 7 days, 23 hours, 16 minutes and landed at the Kennedy Space Centre, the first time a Space Shuttle used this runway.

1984 011B (14688) Name: Westar-6 Country: USA Launch date: 3 February 1984 Re-entry: 16 November 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PAM-D

Orbit: 295 x 1214 km, inclination: 27.7°

Communications satellite as described for 1974 022A. Westar-6 was deployed by the STS-41B (1984 011A) mission but the PAM-D motor, which was to place the

satellite into a geostationary orbit at 78°W, failed after 10 seconds. The satellite was retrieved on 16 November 1984, during the mission of STS-51A (1984 113A) and, after having been refurbished, was launched on 7 April 1990 as Asiasat-1 (1990 030A).

1984 011C (14689) Name: IRT Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 1984 Re-entry: 11 February 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


The Inflatable Rendez-vous Target (IRT) was a 2 m diameter mylar balloon with a mass of 91 kg (including ballast) which was to be used as a target for the Ku-band rendez-vous system that was to be used in the forthcoming SMM rescue mission. The balloon burst soon after release but the STS-41B (1984 011A) still succeeded in tracking pieces of it. The main pieces disintegrated on 11 February 1984.

1984 011D (14692) Name: Palapa-4 Country: Indonesia Launch date: 6 February 1984 Re-entry: 16 November 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PAM-D


Communications satellite as described for 1976 066A. Following the problems with the deployment of Westar-6 (1984 011B) the deployment of Palapa-4 was delayed. However, when eventually deployed, the PAM-D motor also failed to place the satellite into a

geostationary orbit at 113°E. The satellite was retrieved on 16 November 1984 during the mission of STS-51A (1984 113A) and, after having been refurbished, was launched again on 13 April 1990 as Palapa-6 (1990 034A).

1984 012A (14690) Name: NOSS-6 Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas H

Orbit: 1072 x 1147 km, inclination: 63.4° Military ocean surveillance satellite as described for 1976 038A. Also known as Ops-8737.

1984 012C (14728) Name: JD-1 Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas H

Orbit: 1057 x 1162 km, inclination: 63.4° Surveillance satellite as described for 1976 038C. The meaning of the designation JD is not known.

1984 012D (14729) Name: JD-2 Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas H


1984 012F (14795) Name: JD-3 Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas H


1984 013A (14699) Name: Kosmos-1536 Country: USSR Launch date: 8 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3

Orbit: 636 x 667 km, inclination: 82.5° Tselina D military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1970 113A.

1984 014A (14701) Name: Soyuz T-10 Country: USSR Launch date: 8 February 1984 Re-entry: 11 April 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 282 x 288 km, inclination: 51.6° Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts L. Kizim (Cmdr.), V. Solovyov (Fl. Eng.) and O. Atkov (Cosm. Res.) using a Soyuz T spacecraft as described for 1979 103A. Their call sign was Mayak and they docked with the front port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 9 February 1984. Their back-up crews were V. Vasyutin, V. Savinykh and V. Polyakov as well as A. Viktorenko, A. Alexandrov and M. Potopov. The principal task for Kizim and his crew was to rectify the engine problems of the space station as well as the air conditioning system. Both Kizim and Solovyov were well experienced with the Salyut-7 systems. Atkov, a medical doctor, monitored the health of the two other cosmonauts. After completing successfully the repairs of the space station, the three cosmonauts conducted a programme of scientific, medical and technological experiments. They installed the Isparitel experiment, a prototype electron beam welder, as well as conducted experiments with the Biokhim, measuring blood electrolytes, Optokinez, to test the vestibular eye movements, Craznoye, to measure the blood flow from the eye, and the Sport exercise programme. They also photographed the Comet Crommelin. Carrying the crew of Soyuz T-11 (1984 032A), Soyuz T-10 undocked on 11 April 1984 and landed on 11 April 1984 46 km west of Arkalyk. On 13 April 1984 the Soyuz T-11 was moved to the front port of Salyut-7. On 23 April, 26 April, 29 April and 4 May 1984 Kizim and Solovyov performed a series of EVA's to fix the Salyut propulsion system. During the 4 hours, 25 minutes EVA of 23 April 1984 they connected a ladder between the Salyut-7 station and a specially fixed attachment point on Progress-20 (1984 038A), to gain access and during the 4 hours, 56 minutes EVA of 26 April 1984 they replaced the assembly. Further repairs were conducted on 29 April 1984 during an EVA of 2 hours, 45 minutes and again on 4 May 1984 when the EVA lasted also 2 hours, 45 minutes. Progress-21 (1984 042A) carried an additional solar array and after having unloaded the spacecraft, Kizim and Solovyov made another EVA of 3 hours, 5 minutes on 18 May 1984 to add the additional solar array. After this Kizim and Solovyov performed an EVA of 5 hours, 0 minutes on 8 August 1984 to repair the fuel system of the space station. The crew of Soyuz T-10 used the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft to return to Earth. They undocked on 1 October 1984 and landed 145 km north east of Dzhezkazgan. They had been in space for 236 days, 22 hours, 50 minutes.

1984 015A (14722) Name: Exos-3 Country: Japan Launch date: 14 February 1984 Re-entry: 19 July 1989 Launch site: Kagoshima Launch vehicle: Mu 3S


The 180 kg Exos-3 or Ohzora satellite conducted atmospheric studies and the optical sensing of the atmosphere and ionosphere. It also studied the electron density. In particular the studies concentrated on the magnetic anomaly over Brazil. The instruments consisted of an X-ray telescope, a gamma ray telescope, an ultraviolet telescope, an infrared telescope and electron particle detectors.

1984 016A (14725) Name: Raduga-14 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM

Orbit: geostationary at 84°E Communications satellite as described for 1975 123A.

1984 017A (14737) Name: Kosmos-1537 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 February 1984 Re-entry: 1 March 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 261 x 274 km, inclination: 82.4° Resurs F Earth resources satellite as described for 1979 080A.

1984 018A (14757) Name: Progress-19 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 February 1984 Re-entry: 1 April 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 282 x 286 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1978 008A. Progress-19 docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 23 February 1984. The cargo of 2094 kg included spare parts necessary for the repairs and a camera to be used later by the Indian cosmonaut to be launched on Soyuz T-11 (1984 032A). After having been unloaded, Progress-19 was used to boost the orbit of the space station. On 31 March 1984 it undocked.

1984 019A (14759) Name: Kosmos-1538 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 February 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 779 x 811 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 2 military communications satellite as described for 1965 112A.

1984 020A (14763) Name: Kosmos-1539 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 February 1984 Re-entry: 9 April 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 021A (14780) Name: Landsat-5 Country: USA Launch date: 1 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 3920


Landsat-5 was an Earth resources satellite similar to Landsat-4 (1982 072A) except for some minor improvements to avoid the power problems encountered with Landsat-4. The satellite, which had a mass of 1938 kg, was placed in such an orbit that, combined with Landsat-4, a global coverage could be achieved every eight days. Although intended to be operational for only three years, the satellite operated until 5 June 2013.

1984 021B (14781) Name: Oscar-11 Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 1 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 3920


The Oscar-11 satellite, also known as Uosat-2 and UO-11, was similar in concept to Uosat-1 (1981 100B) but featured many design improvements. The instrumentation now included three Geiger-Mueller counters and an electron spectrometer to provide near-Earth reference data for magnetospheric studies, instrumentation to study the feasibility of digital communications, an impact momentum sensor to detect and measure comic dust particles and artificial space debris, as well as the various radio beacons operating at 145, 435 and 2401 MHz, a voice synthesizer and the Earth imaging instrument. The satellite had a mass of 52 kg.

1984 022A (14783) Name: Kosmos-1540 Country: USSR Launch date: 2 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM

Orbit: geostationary at 79°E Potok data relay satellite as described for 1982 044A.

1984 023A (14786) Name: Intelsat 5-F8 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 5 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 1

Orbit: geostationary at 180°E Communications satellite as described for 1980 098A. The payload also included the Inmarsat MCS-D transponder.

1984 024A (14790) Name: Kosmos-1541 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M

Orbit: 600 x 39750 km, inclination: 62.9° Oko military early warning satellite as described for 1972 072A.

1984 025A (14793) Name: Kosmos-1542 Country: USSR Launch date: 7 March 1984 Re-entry: 21 March 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U2


1984 026A (14797) Name: Kosmos-1543 Country: USSR Launch date: 10 March 1984 Re-entry: 5 April 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 217 x 394 km, inclination: 62.8° Scientific satellite based on a Zenit military reconnaissance satellite built by TsKB. The 6300 kg satellite carried also an ancillary payload consisting of the Sokol ionisation chamber for measuring high-energy cosmic rays as well as an Efir payload.

1984 027A (14819) Name: Kosmos-1544 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3


1984 028A (14821) Name: Ekran-12 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM


1984 029A (14825) Name: Molniya 1-60 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 March 1984 Re-entry: 4 November 1994 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M

Orbit: 623 x 40574 km, inclination: 62.9° Communications satellite as described for 1965 030A.

1984 030A (14849) Name: Kosmos-1545 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 March 1984 Re-entry: 5 April 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 031A (14867) Name: Kosmos-1546 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 March 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM

Orbit: geostationary at 23°W

Kosmos-1546 was the first in the Upravlyaemyi Sputnik – Kontinent Morya i Okeany (US-KMO) series of

military early warning satellites operating from a geostationary orbit. The satellite was later moved to 80°E. The satellites were built by Lavochkin as article 71Kh6 and carried a heat sensing array of detectors. The US-KMO are sometimes referred to by the name Prognoz, as the orbital positions for the satellites were reserved under this name.

1984 032A (14872) Name: Soyuz T-11 Country: USSR Launch date: 3 April 1984 Re-entry: 2 October 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 286 x 299 km, inclination: 51.6° Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts Y. Malyshev (Cmdr.), G. Strekalov (Fl. Eng.) and the Indian Cosmonaut Researcher R. Sharma using a Soyuz T spacecraft as described for 1979 103A. Their back-up crew consisted of A. Berezovoi, G. Grechko and R. Malhotra, the latter from India, whilst the crew's call sign was Yupiter. They docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 11 April 1984 and spent 7 days, 21 hours, 41 minutes in space during which they made Earth observations of India using the Terra experiment as well as the MKF-6M and Kate-140 cameras and hand held cameras. They also used the Isparitel facility to make thin alloy coatings and conducted an experiment in which a sample of silver germanium alloy was cooled with liquid helium on one side and melted with a laser on the other side. Other experiments conducted included Braslet, Membrane, to measure calcium loss, Vector, an electro cardiograph, Ballisto, to determine accelerations of the body, and Opros to study psychological conditions. In addition Sharma conducted yoga exercises. The crew returned to Earth in Soyuz T-10 (1984 032A) which undocked on 11 April 1984 and landed the same day 46 km west of Arkalyk. On 13 April 1984 the Soyuz T-11 was moved to the front port of Salyut-7 and was eventually used by the crew of Soyuz T-10 to return to Earth. They undocked on 1 October 1984 and landed the next day 145 km north east of Dzhezkazgan.

1984 033A (14884) Name: Kosmos-1547 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 April 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 034A (14897) Name: STS-41C Country: USA Launch date: 6 April 1984 Re-entry: 13 April 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


SMM repair

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts R. Crippen (Cmdr.), R. Scobee (Pilot), T. Hart, G. Nelson and J. Van Hoften (all Mission Specialists) using the orbiter Challenger as described for 1981 034A. The principal objectives of the mission, which was previously identified as STS-13, were to launch LDEF (1984 034B) and to rendez-vous and repair the SMM (1980 014A) satellite and then relaunch it.In addition the mission carried: 1. the Student Shuttle Involvement experiment SE82-17 (Bee Enclosure Module) which studied live

honey bees building a honeycomb in a weightlessness condition; 2. the Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Package (ACIP)-11 as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 3. the High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP)-5 as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 4. a Cinema 360 camera as well as an IMAX camera; 5. several Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 6. several Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A),

including:

• DSO-201: Sensory-Motor Investigations;

• DSO-401: Validation of Predictive Tests and Countermeasures for Space Motion Sickness;

• DSO-402: Cardiovascular Deconditioning During Space Flight and the Use of Saline as Countermeasure to Orthostatic Intolerance;

• DSO-408: Near Vision Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity; and 7. a Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME) as described for STS-6 (1983 026A). On the morning of the second day, 7 April 1984, LDEF was successfully deployed using the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). As this was the heaviest payload ever attached to the RMS, astronaut Hart spent an hour maneuvering the LDEF whilst still attached to the RMS, so as to get engineering performance data. On 8 April 1984 Nelson and Van Hoften made their first EVA of 2 hours, 57 minutes, when they tried to capture SMM. Nelson's EVA, using the MMU unit, received the international designation 1984 034C. Recovery failed and eventually the satellite was captured on 10 April 1984 with the RMS operated by Hart.

The next day, 11 April 1984, Nelson and Van Hoften made an EVA of 7 hours, 7 minutes during which they replaced the Modular Attitude Control System and the Coronograph main electronics box of the SMM satellite. On 12 April 1984 SMM was released again. On 13 April 1984 the orbiter landed at Edwards AFB after a flight of 6 days, 23 hours, 40 minutes.

1984 034B (14898) Name: LDEF Country: USA Launch date: 7 April 1984 Re-entry: 20 January 1990 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + RMS


The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was a 3625 kg payload facilitator with a diameter of 4.26 m and a length of 9.14 m. It carried 86 experiment trays which, on this mission, accommodated 56 experiments: 1. Ion-Beam-Textured and Coated Surfaces; 2. Advanced Photovoltaic Experiment; 3. Fiber Optics In Space (AFWL-701) to test the performance of fibre optics in space; 4. Thermal Control Surfaces; 5. Exposure of Spacecraft Coatings; 6. Space Exposure Influence on Mechanical Properties of Hi-Toughness Graphite Epoxy; 7. Atomic Oxygen Stimulated Outgassing; 8. Space Testing of Holographic Data Storage Crystals; 9. Space Plasma High-Voltage Drainage; 10. Low-Temperature Heat Pipe Experiment; 11. Heavy Ions In Space (NRL-702) to survey the space radiation environment; 12. Space Environment Effects on Spacecraft Materials (SD-802) consisting of nineteen sets of samples

and solar cells exposed to the space environment; 13. Space Environment Effects on Fiber Optics Systems; 14. Growth of Crystals from Solutions in Low Gravity; 15. Effect of Space Exposure on Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors; 16. The Interaction of Atomic Oxygen with Solid Surfaces at Orbital Altitudes; 17. Effects of Space Environment on Space-Based Radar Phased-Array Antenna; 18. Space Exposure of Composite Materials for Large Space Structures; 19. Radiation Sensitivity of Quartz Crystal Oscillators Experiment; 20. High-Performance Infrared Multilayer Filters-Radiation Effects; 21. Properties of Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials, Effect of Space Environment; 22. Effects of Long-Duration Exposure on Active Optical Systems Components; 23. Passive Exposure of Earth Radiation Budget Experiment Components; 24. Multiple Foil Microabrasion Package; 25. Study of Meteoroid Impact Craters on Various Materials;

26. Attempt at Dust Debris Collection with Stacked Detectors; 27. Thermal Control Coatings Experiment; 28. Graphite-Polymide and Graphite-Epoxy Mechanical Properites in Space; 29. Space Debris Impact Study; 30. Transverse Flat Plate Heat Pipe Performance; 31. Balloon Materials Degradation; 32. Cascade Variable Conductance Heat Pipe; 33. Thin Metal Film and Evaporated Cathodes Performance in Space; 34. Vacuum-Deposited Optical Coatings; 35. Ruled and Holographic Gratings; 36. Optical Fibers and Components; 37. Effects of Solar Radiation on Glasses; 38. Solar-Array Materials (Passive); 39. Critical Surface Degradation Effects on Coatings and Solar Cells; 40. Interstellar Gas Experiment; 41. High Resolution Study of Ultra Heavy Cosmic Rays; 42. Free Flyer Biostack; 43. Chemistry of Micrometeoroids; 44. Interplanetary Dust; 45. Evaluation of Low Scatter Mirrors; 46. Effect of Space Exposure on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites; 47. Effect of Space Environment on Composite Materials; 48. Microwelding of Various Metallic Materials under Ultravacuum; 49. LDEF Thermal Measurement System; 50. Trapped Proton Energy Spectrum (CRL-258) to investigate surface changes to tissues exposed to

space; 51. Measurement of Heavy Cosmic-Ray Nuclei on LDEF; 52. Linear Energy Transfer Spectrum Measurement Experiment; 53. Meteoroid Damage to Spacecraft; 54. Seeds in Space Experiment; 55. Space-Exposed Experiment Developed for Students (SEEDS), an experiment involving tomato seeds

which, after recovery of the satellite, were distributed to students; and 56. Space Environment Effects (AFTAC-201) to determine the space environmental effects on electro-

optical sensor components. The Heavy Ions in Space, the Trapped-Proton Energy Spectrum Determination, the Space Environment Effects on Spacecraft Materials and the Space Environment Effects on Fiber Optics Systems experiment were collectively also known as S80-1 payload. A 57th experiment had been cancelled prior to the flight. It was originally intended that LDEF would be retrieved after one year but retrieval was rescheduled for the STS-61I mission to be conducted in September 1986. With the cancellation of that mission, LDEF was eventually retrieved on STS-32 (1990 002A) on 20 January 1990. The longer than anticipated stay in space provided valuable data on the incidence of space debris.

1984 035A (14899) Name: STTW Country: China Launch date: 8 April 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3

Orbit: geostationary at 125°E The Shiyan Tongbu Tongxin Weixing (STTW) was an experimental geostationary communications satellite. It carried two transponders operating in the C band. Also referred to as Dong Fang Hong (DFH) 2-2. The STTW designation must not be confused with that of STTW-1 (1986 010A).

1984 036A (14902) Name: Kosmos-1548 Country: USSR Launch date: 10 April 1984 Re-entry: 25 May 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 037A (14930) Name: IMEWS-11 Country: USA Launch date: 14 April 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan 34D

Orbit: geostationary at 135°W Military early warning satellite as described for 1970 093A. Also known as Ops-7641.

1984 038A (14932) Name: Progress-20 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 April 1984 Re-entry: 7 May 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U2

Orbit: 236 x 269 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1978 008A. Progress-20 docked with the rear port of Salyut-7 (1982 033A) on 17 April 1984 and remained attached until 6 May 1984. It was used to boost the orbit of Salyut-7 twice.

1984 039A (14935) Name: KH 8-54 Country: USA Launch date: 17 April 1984 Re-entry: 13 August 1984 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB

Orbit: 127 x 311 km, inclination: 96.4° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1966 069A. Also known as Ops-8424 and mission 4354.

1984 040A (14938) Name: Kosmos-1549 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 April 1984 Re-entry: 3 May 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 041A (14940) Name: Gorizont-9 Country: USSR Launch date: 22 April 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM


1984 042A (14961) Name: Progress-21 Country: USSR Launch date: 7 May 1984 Re-entry: 26 May 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 243 x 277 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1978 008A. Progress-21 docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 10 May 1984. It carried an additional solar array for the space station. Progress-21 was also used twice to boost the orbit of Salyut-7 until it undocked on 26 May 1984.

1984 043A (14965) Name: Kosmos-1550 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 978 x 1014 km, inclination: 83.0° Parus military navigational satellite as described for 1974 105A. The satellite was possibly a failure as no transmissions were observed.

1984 044A (14967) Name: Kosmos-1551 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 May 1984 Re-entry: 23 May 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 045A (14971) Name: Kosmos-1552 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 May 1984 Re-entry: 3 November 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 181 x 310 km, inclination: 64.9° Yantar 4KS1 military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1982 120A.


Orbit: 965 x 1010 km, inclination: 82.9° Tsikada civilian navigational satellite as described for 1976 122A.

1984 047A (14977) Name: Kosmos-1554 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2

Orbit: 19125 x 19156 km, inclination: 64.8° Glonass navigational satellite as described for 1982 100A.

1984 047B (14978) Name: Kosmos-1555 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


1984 047C (14979) Name: Kosmos-1556 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


1984 048A (14982) Name: Kosmos-1557 Country: USSR Launch date: 22 May 1984 Re-entry: 4 June 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 213 x 249 km, inclination: 82.3° Zenit 4MKT military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1975 090A.

1984 049A (14985) Name: Spacenet-1 Country: USA Launch date: 23 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 1


Communications satellite owned by GTE Spacenet. The 705 kg satellite was built by RCA Astro using the AS3000 platform and carried 21 transponders operating in the C band and 7 transponders operating in the Ku band.

In June 1993 the satellite was sold to China and relocated over 115°E as Zhongxing-5.

1984 050A (14993) Name: Kosmos-1558 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 May 1984 Re-entry: 8 July 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 051A (14996) Name: Progress-22 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: 15 July 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 290 x 331 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1978 008A. Progress-22 docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 30 May 1984. It was used to boost the orbit of Salyut-7 twice and undocked on 15 July 1984. After undocking, the spacecraft tested the Kant-Sirius A radar system for the detection of ships and submarines.

1984 052B (14999) Name: Kosmos-1560 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052C (15000) Name: Kosmos-1561 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052D (15001) Name: Kosmos-1562 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052E (15002) Name: Kosmos-1563 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052F (15003) Name: Kosmos-1564 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052G (15004) Name: Kosmos-1565 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 052H (15005) Name: Kosmos-1566 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 May 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 053A (15009) Name: Kosmos-1567 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 May 1984 Re-entry: 3 April 1988 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 2

Orbit: 432 x 442 km, inclination: 65.0° US-P military ocean surveillance satellite fitted with electronic equipment as described for 1974 103A.

1984 054A (15011) Name: Kosmos-1568 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 June 1984 Re-entry: 14 June 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


--- Name: Bor-5 (flight 2) Country: USSR Launch date: 6 June 1984 Re-entry: 6 June 1984 Launch site: Kapustin Yar Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3MP Orbit: sub-orbital to 120 km Sub-orbital flight of a 1/8th scale model of the Buran shuttle craft as described for 1988 100A. The flight was similar as that one flown on 4 July 1983.

1984 055A (15027) Name: Kosmos-1569 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 June 1984 Re-entry: 7 May 2001 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 056A (15031) Name: Kosmos-1570 Country: USSR Launch date: 8 June 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 791 x 810 km, inclination: 74.1° Strela 2 military communications satellite as described for 1965 112A.

1984 057A (15034) Name: Intelsat 5-F9 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 9 June 1984 Re-entry: 24 October 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur D1AR

Orbit: 220 x 1207 km, inclination: 28.7° Communications satellite as described for 1980 098A. The payload also included the Inmarsat MCS-E transponder. Because of a premature shut-down of the Centaur stage, the satellite failed to achieve the correct

geostationary orbit at 29°E.

1984 058A (15036) Name: Kosmos-1571 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 June 1984 Re-entry: 26 June 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 348 x 416 km, inclination: 70.0° Kosmos-1571 was the first of the Zenit 8 series military reconnaissance satellites. Built by TsKB as article 17F116, the 6300 kg satellites carried out military cartographic photo surveillance whilst they also investigated natural resources of interest to the USSR national economy. They typically remained in orbit for 15 days. The series was also known as Oblik.

1984 059A (15039) Name: Navstar-9 Country: USA Launch date: 13 June 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas E

Orbit: 20318 x 20620 km, inclination: 62.5° Navigational satellite as described for 1978 020A. Also known as USA-1 and SVN-9.


Orbit: 971 x 1010 km, inclination: 83.0° Tsikada civilian navigational satellite as described for 1976 122A. The payload included the Kospas-3 transponder as described for 1982 066A.

1984 063A (15057) Name: Raduga-15 Country: USSR Launch date: 22 June 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM


1984 064A (15060) Name: Kosmos-1575 Country: USSR Launch date: 22 June 1984 Re-entry: 7 July 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 065A (15063) Name: KH 9-19 Country: USA Launch date: 25 June 1984 Re-entry: 18 October 1984 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan 34D

Orbit: 170 x 263 km, inclination: 96.4° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 056A. Also known as USA-2 and mission 1220. The payload included the S85-1 package consisting of: 1. the Upper Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer (CRLS-505) to detect the presence of helium,

oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the upper atmosphere; and 2. the Polar Ozone and Aerosols Measurement (POAM), also known as ONR-901, an instrument for

the optical study of aerosols in the upper atmosphere.

1984 065C (15071) Name: USA-3 Country: USA Launch date: 25 June 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan 34D

Orbit: 690 x 710 km, inclination: 96.1° USA-3 is believed to have been either a military electronic intelligence gathering satellite or a Hitchiker type satellite as described for 1963 025B. It was probably ejected from KH 9-20 (1984 065A).

1984 066A (15070) Name: Kosmos-1576 Country: USSR Launch date: 26 June 1984 Re-entry: 24 August 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 068A (15080) Name: Kosmos-1578 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 June 1984 Re-entry: 10 January 1993 Launch site: Kapustin Yar Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 295 x 1641 km, inclination: 50.7° Yug minor military satellite as described for 1979 100A.

1984 069A (15085) Name: Kosmos-1579 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 June 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 2

Orbit: 251 x 265 km, inclination: 65.0° US-A military ocean surveillance satellite fitted with radar equipment as described for 1967 127A. The satellite

was boosted into an orbit of 902 x 987 km with an inclination of 65.1° on 28 September 1984.

1984 070A (15090) Name: Kosmos-1580 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 June 1984 Re-entry: 13 July 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 071A (15095) Name: Kosmos-1581 Country: USSR Launch date: 3 July 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 072A (15099) Name: Meteor 2-11 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 July 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3

Orbit: 945 x 962 km, inclination: 82.5° Meteorological satellite as described for 1975 064A.

1984 073A (15119) Name: Soyuz T-12 Country: USSR Launch date: 17 July 1984 Re-entry: 29 July 1974 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U2


Savitskaya EVA

Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts V. Dzhanibekov (Cmdr.), S. Savitskaya (Fl. Eng) and I. Volk using a Soyuz T spacecraft as described for 1979 103A. They docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 18 July 1984 and commenced a programme of experiments including the URI device as well as an EVA of 3 hours, 35 minutes conducted by Dzhanibekov and Savitskaya on 25 July 1984 during which they replaced the Medusa exposure experiment attached to the outside of the space station. Volk, who had been selected for the VKK shuttle flight programme (as described for 1988 100A), had a special research programme to evaluate the effect of limited exercise on the VKK on the human body. Also, immediately on his return to Earth, his flying skills were tested extensively. The call sign of the crew was Pamir and the back-up crew consisted of V. Vasyutin, V. Savinykh and Y. Ivanova. Soyuz T-12 undocked on 29 July 1984 and landed the same day 140 km south east of Dzhezkazgan. The cosmonauts had remained in space for 11 days, 19 hours, 14 minutes.

1984 074A (15121) Name: Kosmos-1582 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 July 1984 Re-entry: 2 August 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 077A (15142) Name: Kosmos-1585 Country: USSR Launch date: 31 July 1984 Re-entry: 28 September 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 078A (15144) Name: Gorizont-10 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM


1984 079A (15147) Name: Kosmos-1586 Country: USSR Launch date: 2 August 1984 Re-entry: 6 Janaury 2016 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 080A (15152) Name: Himawari-3 Country: Japan Launch date: 2 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: Nu 2


Meteorological satellite as described for 1977 065A. Also known as GMS-3.

1984 081A (15158) Name: Eutelsat-2 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 4 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 3

Orbit: geostationary at 2°E Communications satellite as described for 1983 058A. The satellite was taken out of geostationary orbit in December 1993. The satellite was later moved to 10oE, 7oE and 1oE.

1984 081B (15159) Name: Telecom 1-A Country: France Launch date: 4 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 3


The Telecom series of communications satellites provided domestic broadcasting facilities for France as well as telephone links with the French territories in Africa and South America. The first series of satellites, which had a mass of 690 kg and had been built by Matra, were three-axis stabilised, and were equipped with six transponders in the Ku band, four transponders in the C band and two transponders in the X band. The latter transponders were used for military purposes and were designated as Systeme de Radio Communications Utilisant un Satellite (Syracuse).

1984 082A (15163) Name: Kosmos-1587 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 August 1984 Re-entry: 31 August 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 083A (15167) Name: Kosmos-1588 Country: USSR Launch date: 7 August 1984 Re-entry: 17 February 1988 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 2

Orbit: 429 x 446 km, inclination: 65.0° US-P military ocean surveillance satellite fitted with electronic equipment as described for 1974 103A. The satellite was disintegrated on 23 February 1986.

1984 084A (15171) Name: Kosmos-1589 Country: USSR Launch date: 8 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3

Orbit: 1496 x 1504 km, inclination: 82.6° Musson geodetic satellite as described for 1981 098A.

1984 085A (15182) Name: Molniya 1-61 Country: USSR Launch date: 10 August 1984 Re-entry: 31 December 2002 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 086A (15193) Name: Progress-23 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 August 1984 Re-entry: 28 August 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 292 x 362 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1978 008A. Progress-23 docked with the rear port of the Salyut-7 space station (1982 033A) on 16 August 1984. This spacecraft brought, in addition to the normal supplies, the Siren telescope as well as the RS-17 X-ray telescope. Like other Progress spacecraft, it was used to boost the orbit of the space station before it undocked on 26 August 1984.

1984 087A (15197) Name: Kosmos-1590 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 August 1984 Re-entry: 30 August 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 088A (15199) Name: AMPTE/CCE Country: USA Launch date: 16 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3924


The Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Experiment (AMPTE) consisted of three separate satellites to study the behaviour of the solar wind and the mechanisms of the interaction of particles with the magnetosphere. The Charge Composite Explorer (CCE), also known as Explorer-65, was the United States contribution and carried: 1. a plasma composition spectrometer; 2. a charge energy mass spectrometer; 3. a medium-energy particle analyser; 4. a magnetometer; and 5. a plasma wave spectrometer. The spacecraft, which had a mass of 242 kg, observed the artificial aurorea and comets caused by the barium and lithium released by IRM (1984 088B). The third spacecraft involved in the programme was UKS (1984 088C).

1984 088B (15200) Name: IRM Country: German Fed. Rep. Launch date: 16 August 1984 Re-entry: 8 December 1987 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3924

Orbit: 552 x 113729 km, inclination: 28.7° The Ion Release Module (IRM) was the German contribution to the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Experiment (AMPTE) and carried eight pairs of canisters containing barium (13.5 kg in each container) and lithium (5.8 kg in each container) which was released in the ionosphere at intervals of several months. Once released, the atoms of the chemicals were ionised by the solar wind resulting in artificial aurorae and comets which were observed by the two other spacecraft, the Charge Composite Explorer (CCE) (1984 088A) of the United States and the U.K. Sub-satellite (UKS) (1984 088C) of the United Kingdom. The instrumentation on board of 705 kg IRM consisted of: 1. a three dimensional plasma analyser; 2. a mass separating ion sensor; 3. a supra-thermal energy ionic change analyser; 4. a magnetometer; and 5. a plasma wave spectrometer. The lithium was released on 11 September 1984, 20 September 1984 and twice in March/April 1985, whilst the barium releases took place on 27 December 1984 and twice in March/April 1985. The barium cloud extended 3000 km and was photographed revealing perturbations in the tail due to solar wind instabilities.

1984 088C (15201) Name: UKS Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 16 August 1984 Re-entry: 8 December 1998 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3924


The UK Sub-satellite (UKS) was the United Kingdom's contribution to the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Experiment (AMPTE) programme. The United States contribution was the Charge Composite Explorer (CCE) (1984 088A) whilst the German contribution was the Ion Release Module (IRM) (1984 088B). UKS was fitted with the following instruments: 1. a three dimensional plasma analyser; 2. a three dimensional electron analyser; 3. a particle modulation analyser; 4. a magnetometer; and 5. a plasma wave spectrometer. The 77 kg spacecraft was in the same orbit as the IRM but trailed it by 200 to 400 km.

1984 089A (15214) Name: Molniya 1-62 Country: USSR Launch date: 24 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 090A (15219) Name: Ekran-13 Country: USSR Launch date: 24 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM


1984 091A (15226) Name: Jumpseat-7 Country: USA Launch date: 28 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB

Orbit: 380 x 39315 km, inclination: 63.3° Military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1971 021A. Also known as USA-4. Alternatively it may have been a SDS military communications satellite as described for 1976 050A.

1984 092A (15232) Name: Kosmos-1591 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 August 1984 Re-entry: 13 September 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 093A (15234) Name: STS-41D Country: USA Launch date: 30 August 1984 Re-entry: 5 September 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight by astronauts H. Hartsfield (Cmdr.), M. Coats (Pilot), S. Hawley, J. Resnik and M. Mullane (all Mission Specialists) and C. Walker (Payload Specialist) using the orbiter Discovery as described for 1981 034A. The objective of the flight, which had no direct connection with any of the previously sequentially numbered flights (refer 1984 011A), was to launch the SBS-4 (1984 093B), Syncom IV-2 (1984 093C) and Telstar 3-C (1984 093D) communications satellites. The payload also included: 1. the Office of Applied Space Technologies (OAST)-1 payload consisting of:

• the Solar Array Module Plasma Interaction Experiment (SAMPIE), to investigate the interaction between high voltage space power systems and the space plasma;

• the Dynamic Augmentation Experiment (DAE) to monitor the movements of the solar array;

• a Solar Cell Calibration Facility (SCCF); 2. the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) III-1, a modified version of the McDonnell

Douglas experiment flown on earlier missions and as described for STS-4 (1982 065A); 3. Shuttle Student Involvement Project SE82-14 investigating crystal growth in zero-gravity; 4. a Vehicle Glow experiment, involving the photographing of nine strips of material attached to the RMS

in order to understand the effects of the optical emissions by spacecraft surfaces facing the direction of orbital motion;

5. the Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 6. the Visual Function Test (VFT) I, also known as AMD-201, to test the visual aculty of observers; 7. several Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A),

including:



• DSO-402: Cardiovascular Deconditioning During Space Flight and the Use of Saline as Countermeasure to Orthostatic Intolerance;

• DSO-408: Near Vision Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity;

• DSO-439: Documentation of the Action of Metoclopramide;

• DSO-440: Crew Visual Performance;

• DSO-441: Blood Pressure Monitoring During Reentry; 8. the Clouds Logic to Optimise Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS) experiment, also known as AWS-

301, a 35 mm camera for the photography of cloud formation, dissipation and opaqueness. Depending on the version it used, this experiment was also known as QRSP-002 (CLOUDS-I), QRSP-008 (CLOUDS-II) and QRSP-010 (CLOUDS-IIA); and

9. an IMAX camera. The mission had a very chequered history and was originally scheduled for 26 June 1984 when a launch attempt was aborted because one engine failed four seconds before launch. A fire broke out on the launch pad and the crew did consider an emergency evacuation but did not undertake one. The malfunction was later traced to microscopic contamination in the #3 engine whilst the fire was caused by the excessive built up of hydrogen. The delays caused by this problem, affected the Shuttle launch programme for the remainder of the year which had envisaged four more flights. It was subsequently decided to mix the payload of STS-41D with that of STS-41F (which had been due for August 1984). Previously the payloads of STS-41E had been incorporated in STS-41D. As previously only the Syncom IV-1 satellite was to be carried by STS-41D, it was necessary to modify the payload manifest to accommodate the three satellites. Syncom IV-1 was transferred to STS-51A (1984 113A), whilst the following additional experiments were assigned to future missions: 1. the Large Format Camera (LFC)-1, an Earth observation instrument (to STS-41G (1984 108A); 2. a Cinema 360 camera; and 3. one Getaway special. The flight of the mission lasted 6 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes during which the three satellites were successfully deployed. SBS-4 and Syncom IV-2 were deployed on 31 August 1984 and Telstar 3-C on 1 September 1984. On the third and fourth day, the 31 m Dynamic Augmentation solar array was deployed several times. Prior to re-entry it was necessary to use the Remote Manipulator System to remove a block of ice that had built up on the hull. The landing took place at Edwards AFB.

1984 093B (15235) Name: SBS-4 Country: USA Launch date: 31 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PAM-D


Communications satellite as described for 1980 091A but fitted with 14 transponders in the Ku band. The satellite was later sold to Panamsat and was eventually acquired by Hughes Global Services as HGS-5.

1984 093C (15236) Name: Syncom IV-2 Country: USA Launch date: 31 August 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PKM


The Syncom IV series of communications satellites, also known as Leasat, were built by Hughes as type HS-381 and leased to the US Navy. The 1315 kg satellites carried eight transponders operating in the 240/400 MHz band and one transponder operating in the SHF band. The satellites were launched by means of the 'frisbee' method, rotating the satellite slowly as it was deployed.

Syncom IV-2 was later positioned at 177°W.

1984 093D (15237) Name: Telstar 3-C Country: USA Launch date: 1 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PAM-D


Communications satellite as described for 1983 077A. The satellite was later moved to 76°W.

1984 094A (15257) Name: Kosmos-1592 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 September 1984 Re-entry: 18 September 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 095A (15259) Name: Kosmos-1593 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


1984 095B (15260) Name: Kosmos-1594 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


1984 095C (15261) Name: Kosmos-1595 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


1984 096A (15267) Name: Kosmos-1596 Country: USSR Launch date: 7 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 097A (15271) Name: Navstar-10 Country: USA Launch date: 8 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas E

Orbit: 20271 x 20713 km, inclination: 63.3° Navigational satellite as described for 1978 020A. Also known as USA-5 and SVN-10.

1984 098A (15279) Name: FSW 0-6 Country: China Launch date: 12 September 1984 Re-entry: 29 September 1984 Launch site: Jiuquan Launch vehicle: CZ 2

Orbit: 175 x 399 km, inclination: 67.9° Recoverable satellite as described for 1975 111A. It was also known as Jian Bing 1-6. The capsule was recovered on 17 September 1984.

1984 099A (15287) Name: Kosmos-1597 Country: USSR Launch date: 13 September 1984 Re-entry: 26 September 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 213 x 246 km, inclination: 82.3° Zenit 4MKT military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1975 090A.

1984 100A (15292) Name: Kosmos-1598 Country: USSR Launch date: 13 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 101A (15308) Name: Galaxy-3 Country: USA Launch date: 21 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3920

Orbit: geostationary at 93.5°W Communications satellite as described for 1983 065A.

1984 102A (15318) Name: Kosmos-1599 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 September 1984 Re-entry: 20 November 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 103A (15324) Name: Kosmos-1600 Country: USSR Launch date: 27 September 1984 Re-entry: 11 October 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 104A (15326) Name: Kosmos-1601 Country: USSR Launch date: 27 September 1984 Re-entry: 29 November 1989 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 475 x 516 km, inclination: 65.8° Taifun 2 minor military satellite as described for 1976 037A. The satellite released up to 28 Romb sub-satellites.

1984 105A (15331) Name: Kosmos-1602 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3

Orbit: 636 x 669 km, inclination: 82.5° Okean oceanographic satellite as described for 1983 099A.

1984 106A (15333) Name: Kosmos-1603 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 September 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM2


Kosmos-1603 was the first of the Tselina 2 series of military electronic intelligence gathering satellites which had a mass of about 3550 kg and carried the Korvet radio receiving system. An operational system probably consisted of four satellites built by KBYu as article 11F644.

Kosmos-1603 maneuvered twice on the first day from an initial inclination of 51° to the 71° inclination.

1984 107A (15350) Name: Kosmos-1604 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 108A (15353) Name: STS-41G Country: USA Launch date: 5 October 1984 Re-entry: 13 October 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


SIR-B

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts R. Crippen (Cmdr.), J. McBride (Pilot), S. Ride, K. Sullivan and D. Leestma (all Mission Specialists), P. Scully-Power and M. Garneau (Canada) (both Payload Specialists) using the orbiter Challenger as described for 1981 034A. The objective of the mission, which was previously identified as STS-17, was to launch ERBS (1984 108B) and conduct a range of other experiments: 1. the Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications (OSTA)-3 payload principally on a modified Spacelab

pallet (F006) as described for 1983 116A:

• the Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR)-B, an improved version of the SIR-A as described for STS-2 (1981 111A) which carried a 23 cm Earth resources radar of which the angle of incidence could be varied;

• the Large Format Camera (LFC) which had a resolution of 21 m;

• the Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) as described for STS-2 (1981 111A);

• the Feature Identification and Location Experiment (FILE) as described for STS-2 (1981 111A); 2. the Canadian Experiments (CANEX) payload, consisting of:

• the NRC Space Vision System (SVS), video recordings of targets attached to ERBS during its deployment tgo determine how the Space Vision System coped with the different lighting conditions in space and how effective the targets are for this purpose;

• the Advanced Composite Materials Experiment (ACOMEX), the measurement of the deterioration in space of some non-metallic composite materials on the Canadarm;

• the Sun Photospectrometer Earth Atmosphere Measurement (SPEAM)-1 experiment to measure the atmospheric structure and composition of the upper atmosphere;

• the Orbital Glow and Atmospheric Emissions (OGLOW)-1 experiment to photograph the glow generated by the impact of high-velocity atoms on the Shuttle’s surfaces;

• the Space Adaptation Syndrome Studies (SASSE) study to understand the adaptation of astronauts to the zero gravity environment through a number of individual tests: Vestibulo-ocular Reflex Gain, Proprioceptive Illusion Tests, Sensory Function, Awareness of Position, Space Motion Sickness and Taste in Space;

3. eight Getaway specials as described for STS-3 (1982 022A):

• G007: Space Processing and Transmitting Computer Voice on Amateur Radio Bands;

• G013: halogen lamp experiment;

• G032: physics of solids and liquids in zero-gravity;

• G038: vacuum deposition in space, an art experiment sponsored by an artist;

• G074: zero-gravity fuel system test;

• G306: Trapped Ions In Space (TRIS)-1 experiment, also known as S84-1 and NRL-905, to collect traces of unusually heavy ions discovered in the magnetosphere during the Skylab programme;

• G469: Cosmic Ray Upset Experiment (CRUX) as described for STS-8 (1983 089A);

• G518: a physics and materials processing experiment; 4. the Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 5. Visual Function Test (VFT) I as described for STS-41D (1984 093A); 6. the Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Package (ACIP)-12 as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 7. fourteen Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A); 8. eleven Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A),

including:



• DSO-408: Near Vision Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity;

• DSO-439: Documentation of the Action of Metoclopramide;

• DSO-440: Crew Visual Performance;

• DSO-441: Blood Pressure Monitoring During Reentry;

• DSO-450: Salivary Cortisol Levels During the Acute Phases of Space Flight; 9. the High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP)-6 as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 10. the Orbital Refuelling System (ORS) tests to be conducted during an EVA; 11. the Thermo-Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD) to measure cosmic radiation doses; 12. the Auroral Photography Experiment (APE) as described for STS-9 (1983 116A); and 13. an IMAX camera. The ERBS was released after nine hours, using the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). A solar panel was initially stuck and only deployed after moving the satellite with the RMS to face the Sun. Also the SIR-B antenna fail to deploy properly reducing the amount of images obtained to 40%. On 11 October 1984 Leestma and Sullivan conducted an EVA of 3 hours, 29 minutes to test the refuelling techniques which were scheduled to take place with the Landsat-4 (1982 072A) satellite on the STS-72A mission, which was eventually cancelled. During the EVA they also unlatched the SIR-B antenna and stowed a faulty antenna. After a flight of 8 days, 5 hours, 23 minutes the orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre.

1984 108B (15354) Name: ERBS Country: USA Launch date: 5 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + RMS


The 226 kg Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), which was deployed by the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) of STS-41G (1984 108A), studied the interaction of the Earth's radiation with that of the Sun and in particular the vertical distribution of stratospheric aerosols, ozone and carbondioxide. Its principal instrument was the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE)-2 whilst the satellite also carried two instruments to measure radiation in general.

1984 109A (15359) Name: Kosmos-1605 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 110A (15362) Name: Nova-3 Country: USA Launch date: 12 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Scout G-1

Orbit: 1159 x 1201 km, inclination: 90.1° Military navigational satellite as described for 1981 044A. Also known as NNSS-30500.

1984 111A (15369) Name: Kosmos-1606 Country: USSR Launch date: 18 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3


1984 112A (15378) Name: Kosmos-1607 Country: USSR Launch date: 31 October 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 2

Orbit: 251 x 265 km, inclination: 65.0° US-A military ocean surveillance satellite fitted with radar equipment as described for 1967 127A. The satellite

was boosted into an orbit of 909 x 997 km with an inclination of 65.0° on 31 January 1985.

1984 113A (15382) Name: STS-51A Country: USA Launch date: 8 November 1984 Re-entry: 16 November 1984 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Westar-6 retrieval

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts F. Hauck (Cmdr.), D. Walker (Pilot), J. Allen, D. Gardner and A. Fisher (all Mission Specialists) using the orbiter Discovery as described for 1981 034A. The principal objectives of the mission were to launch the Anik D-2 (1984 113B) and Syncom IV-1 (1984 113C) communications satellites and recover Westar-6 (1984 011B) and Palapa-4 (1984 011D) which had been launched by STS-41B (1984 011A). In addition the orbiter carried: 1. the Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME) as described for STS-6 (1983 026A); 2. the Diffuse Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS)-1 experiment for materials processing; 3. eight Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A): 4. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):


• DSO-484: Assessment of Circadian Shifting in Astronauts by Bright Light;

• DSO-614: Head and Gaze Stability During Locomotion; and

• DSO-626: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Responses to Standing Before and After Space Flight.

The Anik D-2 and Syncom IV-1 were successfully deployed on 9 November 1984 and 10 November 1984. To recover the two other satellites it had been intended to place a 'stinger' device in the apogee motors of the satellites whereby they would be locked to the modified Manned Maneuvering Units (MMU). They would then be nudged into the payload bay using the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). As it was, the stinger device did not fit properly and both satellites were recovered manually. Palapa-4 was recovered during a 6 hours EVA by Allen and Gardner on 12 November 1984, with Allen using the MMU. On 14 November 1984, Gardner, who used the MMU, and Allen made an EVA of 5 hours, 38 minutes during which they recovered Westar-6. On both occasions the RMS was operated by Fisher. These EVAs were also the last times that the MMU was used. Both Palapa-4 and Westar-6 were placed on Spacelab pallets (F007 and F008) as described for for 1983 116A. The orbited landed at the Kennedy Space Centre after a flight of 7 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes.

1984 113B (15383) Name: Anik D-2 Country: Canada Launch date: 9 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PAM-D

Orbit: geostationary at 111.5°W Communications satellite as described for 1982 082A.

In November 1991 the satellite was sold to GE Americom as Satcom C-2 and moved to 82°W. The satellite

was leased by the Arabsat organisation in 1993 and was moved to 19°E, following which it was renamed as Arabsat-1D.

1984 113C (15384) Name: Syncom IV-1 Country: USA Launch date: 10 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS + PKM

Orbit: geostationary at 15°W Communications satellite as described for 1984 093C. Also known as Leasat-1.

1984 114A (15385) Name: Spacenet-2 Country: USA Launch date: 10 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 3

Orbit: geostationary at 68°W Communications satellite as described for 1984 049A. In 1997 the satellite was sold to China as Zhongxing-5R and was moved to 115.5oE..

1984 114B (15386) Name: Marecs-B2 Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 10 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 3


Maritime communications satellite as described for 1981 122A. The satellite incorporated several modifications to overcome the electric discharging problem suffered by

Marecs-1 (1981 122A). Later the satellite was shifted to 26°W and 55°W.

1984 115A (15391) Name: NATO-3D Int. Agency: NATO Launch date: 14 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3914

Orbit: geostationary at 30°W Military communications satellite as described for 1976 035A.

1984 116A (15393) Name: Kosmos-1608 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 November 1984 Re-entry: 17 December 1984 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 198 x 251 km, inclination: 70.0° Siluet mapping satellite as described for 1981 015A.

1984 117A (15395) Name: Kosmos-1609 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 November 1984 Re-entry: 28 November 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 118A (15398) Name: Kosmos-1610 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 November 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


1984 119A (15403) Name: Kosmos-1611 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 November 1984 Re-entry: 11 January 1985 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 120A (15406) Name: Kosmos-1612 Country: USSR Launch date: 27 November 1984 Re-entry: 31 January 1985 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3

Orbit: 141 x 1217 km, inclination: 82.6° Meteorological satellite in the Meteor 3 series as described for 1985 100A. Due to an upper stage malfunction the satellite did not achieve the desired orbit.

1984 121A (15414) Name: Kosmos-1613 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 November 1984 Re-entry: 24 December 1984 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


1984 122A (15423) Name: KH 11-6 Country: USA Launch date: 4 December 1984 Re-entry: 20 October 1994 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan 34D

Orbit: 300 x 650 km, inclination: 97.1° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1976 125A. Also known as USA-6 and Ops-1058. The re-entry date is based on visual onservations.

1984 123A (15427) Name: NOAA-9 Country: USA Launch date: 12 December 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas E

Orbit: 846 x 867 km, inclination: 98.9° Meteorological satellite as described for 1979 057A. It included the Sarsat-2 transponder.

1984 124A (15429) Name: Molniya 1-63 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 December 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M


1984 125A (15432) Name: Vega-1 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 December 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/D-1

Orbit: 0.70 x 0.98 AU, inclination: 2.3°

The Vega-1 was the first of two spacecraft directed at Venus also known as type 5VK. The other spacecraft was Vega-2 (1984 128A). The spacecraft had a mass of app. 4000 kg. The name Vega is derived from the Russian Venera-Gallei, meaning Venera-Halley. Vega-1 reached Venus on 10 June 1985 and sent a lander, designated 1984 125E (15858), to the planet's surface which was targeted for the night side equatorial regions. The spacecraft also released on 11 June 1985 a French designed balloon, named Aerostatniy Zond (AZ) Vega-1 and designated 1984 125F (15859), which carried 14.1 kg of instrumentation and drifted through the venusian atmosphere for 46 hours at an altitude of 54 km, measuring atmospheric pressure and temperature, vertical winds, cloud densities as well as surface data using X-ray spectrometers. It also carried a nephelometer to measure the aerosol distribution in the atmosphere of Venus.

The lander, which touched down at 7°11'N, 177°48'E, incorporated: 1. a television system; 2. a soil sample collection and analysis system; 3. spectrometers to study the mass and ultraviolet and gamma radiation; 4. a gas chromatograph; 5. a hydrometer; and 6. an aerosol analyser. As the drill was de-activated prematurely, it could not collect a sample. The spacecraft bus, which used the gravitational field of Venus to increase its speed for an encounter with Comet Halley, incorporated a 120 kg instrument package. Vega-1 was the first spacecraft to cross the path of Comet Halley at a distance of 8889 km on 6 March 1986. It returned 500 images.

1984 126A (15442) Name: Kosmos-1614 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 December 1984 Re-entry: 19 December 1984 Launch site: Kapustin Yar Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3MP

Orbit: 173 x 223 km, inclination: 50.7° Flight in the Bor-4 programme as described for 1982 054A. The spacecraft tested heat resistant tiles for the Buran shuttle craft as described for 1988 100A. Kosmos-1614 was recovered in the Black Sea after one orbit.

1984 127A (15446) Name: Kosmos-1615 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 December 1984 Re-entry: 15 April 1990 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 441 x 501 km, inclination: 65.8° Yug minor military satellite as described for 1979 100A.

1984 128A (15449) Name: Vega-2 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 December 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/D-1

Orbit: 0.70 x 0.98 AU, inclination: 2.3° Venus spacecraft identical to Vega-1 as described for 1984 125A. Vega-2 reached Venus on 14 June 1985. The lander, designated 1984 128E (15856), touched down at

6°27'S, 178°55'W. It was successful in collecting and analysing soil samples. The Aerostatniy Zond (AZ) Vega-2 balloon was designated as 1984 128F (15857) and was released on 15 June 1985. It floated at an altitude of 54 km for 46 hours before ceasing to return data. Vega-2 passed the nucleus of Halley's Comet on 9 March 1986 at a distance of 8030 km and returned 700 images. Data gathered by the two Vega spacecraft was used in the final redefinement of the observation programme of the Giotto spacecraft (1985 056A).

1984 129A (15453) Name: IMEWS-12 Country: USA Launch date: 22 December 1984 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan 34D


Military early warning satellite as described for 1970 093A. Also known as USA-7 and Ops-4735.

world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 1984 version: 10 ... · maneuvering unit (mmu) in preparation...

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