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Geo-IK
Other Designations: Eridan. Article Number: 11F666. Code Name: Musson. Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic. Destination: Medium Earth Orbit. Nation: Russia. Agency: RKA. Manufacturer: Reshetnev.

Development of a second generation geodetic satellite system began in 1977. From 1977 to 1978 NIU MO (50-TsNII KS and 29-NII VTS) headed the development effort, with the prime contractor being NPO PM under Reshetnev. The Geo-IK/Musson satellite was used to develop a unified world geodetic data base and geocentric co-ordinate system. It characterized the earth's geoid and gravitational field for navigation systems. Flight trials began in 1981.

GEO-IK was the final KAUR-1 bus spacecraft with 'wrapped' panels on a cylindrical body. While it used the standard pressurized instrument container and gravity-gradient single-axis passive orientation system, it was much heavier than earlier spacecraft, with more elaborate systems and a deployable outer sheath of solar cells. It provided five ways for determining satellites position:

  • Doppler system working at 150 and 400 MHz and providing 3 cm accuracy
  • High intensity lights flashing 3 times per second, allowing precise location by ground observatories
  • Radio transponder working at 5.7/3.4 GHz and providing 5 m accuracy
  • Laser reflectors providing 1.5 m accuracy
  • Radar altimeter working at 9.4 GHz providing 5 m altitude accuracy. This was equipped with a separate autonomous system for accurate pointing.

    Typical orbit: 1483 km x 1515 km at 73.6 to 82.6 degrees inclin. Length: 3.00 m (9.80 ft). Maximum Diameter: 2.04 m (6.68 ft). Span: 2.04 m (6.68 ft). Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb).

    Geo-IK Chronology
    • 1981 January 23 - Geo-IK no. 1 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. FAILURE: Payload shroud failed to separate. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).

    • 1981 September 30 - Cosmos 1312 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,491 km (926 mi). Apogee: 1,503 km (933 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 115.90 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1982 September 24 - Cosmos 1410 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,492 km (927 mi). Apogee: 1,503 km (933 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 115.90 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1983 November 24 - Cosmos 1510 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,480 km (910 mi). Apogee: 1,524 km (946 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1984 August 8 - Cosmos 1589 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,492 km (927 mi). Apogee: 1,504 km (934 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 115.90 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1985 June 14 - Cosmos 1660 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,482 km (920 mi). Apogee: 1,525 km (947 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.10 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1986 February 11 - Cosmos 1732 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,480 km (910 mi). Apogee: 1,525 km (947 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1986 December 2 - Cosmos 1803 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,497 km (930 mi). Apogee: 1,504 km (934 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1987 February 20 - Cosmos 1823 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,479 km (919 mi). Apogee: 1,524 km (946 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1988 May 30 - Cosmos 1950 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,484 km (922 mi). Apogee: 1,522 km (945 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.10 min.
      Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

    • 1989 August 28 - Cosmos 2037 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,485 km (922 mi). Apogee: 1,524 km (946 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.10 min.
      Investigation of outer space.

    • 1990 July 30 - Cosmos 2088 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/1. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,484 km (922 mi). Apogee: 1,524 km (946 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.10 min.
      Investigation of outer space.

    • 1992 December 22 - Cosmos 2226 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,479 km (919 mi). Apogee: 1,525 km (947 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min.
      Investigation of outer space.

    • 1994 November 29 - Geo-IK - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32/2. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 1,481 km (920 mi). Apogee: 1,526 km (948 mi). Inclination: 73.60 deg. Period: 116.10 min.
      Also tested Elekon communcations payload.

    Bibliography:

    • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
    • JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
    • Voevodin, Sergey A, VSA072 - Space Apparatus, "Sergey A. Voevodin's Reports", Web Address when accessed: http://home.attbi.com/~rusaerog/spacecraft.html.
    • Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "Zapushchen sputnik 'Geo-IK'", 1994, Issue 24, page 23.
    • Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997..
    • Golotyuk, S, Novosti kosmonavtiki, "Sputnikostroiteli s beregov Yeniseya", No. 10, 1999, p. 64.
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