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Pchela
Credit - KB Yuzhnoye
Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Destination: Medium Earth Orbit. Nation: Russia. Agency: MO SSSR. Manufacturer: Reshetnev.

Prototype of the small satellite element of the Strela system, which consisted of a large constellation of medium orbit store-dump satellites that provided survivable communications for Soviet military and intelligence forces. The system was developed experimentally in the 1960's, with flight tests of 26 of the Strela-1 model from 1964 to 1965. The production Strela-1M was flown beginning in 1970.

Typical orbit: 1432 km x 1488 km at 74 degrees inclination. Length: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Maximum Diameter: 0.75 m (2.46 ft). Span: 0.75 m (2.46 ft). Mass: 50 kg (110 lb).

Strela-1 Chronology
  • 1961 October 31 - Kosmos 65S3 intermediate launch vehicle development authorised. - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3.
    Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On the Creation of the Space Carrier 65S3--start of work on a launch vehicle based on the R-14 for launch of the Meteor, Strela, and Pchela satellites.' was issued.

  • 1964 August 18 - Cosmos 39 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 792 km (492 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 94.60 min.

  • 1964 August 18 - Cosmos 40 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 206 km (128 mi). Apogee: 737 km (457 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 94.10 min.

  • 1964 August 18 - Cosmos 38 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 203 km (126 mi). Apogee: 766 km (475 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 94.30 min.

  • 1964 August 22 - Cosmos 43 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Mayak-2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Perigee: 227 km (141 mi). Apogee: 1,093 km (679 mi). Inclination: 48.90 deg. Period: 98.00 min.

  • 1964 August 22 - Cosmos 42 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Mayak-2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Perigee: 228 km (141 mi). Apogee: 1,105 km (686 mi). Inclination: 48.90 deg. Period: 98.10 min.

  • 1964 October 23 - Strela-1 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.

  • 1964 October 23 - Strela-1 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.

  • 1964 October 23 - Strela-1 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.

  • 1965 February 21 - Cosmos 54 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 269 km (167 mi). Apogee: 1,839 km (1,142 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 106.30 min.

  • 1965 February 21 - Cosmos 56 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 259 km (160 mi). Apogee: 1,687 km (1,048 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 104.60 min.

  • 1965 February 21 - Cosmos 55 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 261 km (162 mi). Apogee: 1,752 km (1,088 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 105.30 min.

  • 1965 March 15 - Cosmos 63 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 259 km (160 mi). Apogee: 1,673 km (1,039 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 104.40 min.

  • 1965 March 15 - Cosmos 61 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 262 km (162 mi). Apogee: 1,737 km (1,079 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 105.10 min.

  • 1965 March 15 - Cosmos 62 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 259 km (160 mi). Apogee: 1,712 km (1,063 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 104.80 min.

  • 1965 July 16 - Cosmos 72 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 538 km (334 mi). Apogee: 588 km (365 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 95.90 min.

  • 1965 July 16 - Cosmos 71 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 522 km (324 mi). Apogee: 542 km (336 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 95.20 min.

  • 1965 July 16 - Cosmos 74 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 539 km (334 mi). Apogee: 616 km (382 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 96.20 min.

  • 1965 July 16 - Cosmos 73 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 538 km (334 mi). Apogee: 556 km (345 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 95.50 min.

  • 1965 July 16 - Cosmos 75 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 540 km (330 mi). Apogee: 644 km (400 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 96.50 min.

  • 1965 September 3 - Cosmos 84 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,470 km (910 mi). Apogee: 1,569 km (974 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 116.40 min.

  • 1965 September 3 - Cosmos 83 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,447 km (899 mi). Apogee: 1,558 km (968 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 116.00 min.

  • 1965 September 3 - Cosmos 82 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,421 km (882 mi). Apogee: 1,549 km (962 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.70 min.

  • 1965 September 3 - Cosmos 81 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,398 km (868 mi). Apogee: 1,542 km (958 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.30 min.

  • 1965 September 3 - Cosmos 80 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,370 km (850 mi). Apogee: 1,536 km (954 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.00 min.

  • 1965 September 18 - Cosmos 90 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,394 km (866 mi). Apogee: 1,666 km (1,035 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 116.70 min.

  • 1965 September 18 - Cosmos 89 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,371 km (851 mi). Apogee: 1,652 km (1,026 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 116.20 min.

  • 1965 September 18 - Cosmos 88 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,341 km (833 mi). Apogee: 1,645 km (1,022 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.80 min.

  • 1965 September 18 - Cosmos 87 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,317 km (818 mi). Apogee: 1,633 km (1,014 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.40 min.

  • 1965 September 18 - Cosmos 86 - Program: Strela. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 1,291 km (802 mi). Apogee: 1,623 km (1,008 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 115.00 min.

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.
  • Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997..
  • Frolov, I, Kosmodrom, "Kratkiy istoricheskiy obzor sovietskikh (rossiyskikh) voennikh sredstv", No. 8, 1999, p. 21..
  • Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003.
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