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Taifun-2
Credit - Yuzhnoye
Other Designations: Romb. Article Number: 17F31. Code Name: Yug. Class: Military. Type: Target. Nation: Ukraine. Agency: MO SSSR. Manufacturer: Yuzhnoye.

In 1969 KB Yuzhnoye introduced targets for exercise and test of PVO air defense and space tracking systems. The second generation consisted of Taifun-1 and Taifun-2 radar calibration satellites, which differed in the type of equipment installed.

In 1972 KB-3 under B E Khimrov, with the co-operation of assisting organizations and the Ministry of Defense, completed the draft project. The first Taifun-2 was completed in 1976. Flight trials were conducted in the second half of the 1970's using Kosmos-3M launch vehicles from Plesetsk and Kapustin Yar. The heads of the State Trials Commission were B N Karpov, N N Zhukov, and B G Zudin. The system was accepted into military service on 12 March 1981 after 11 launches. Taifun-2 satellites were spherical in shape, 2 m in diameter, with no external solar cells or antennae. Taifun-2 normally released 25 Romb subsatellites into an orbit of 300 to 500 km altitude, at inclinations of 50.7 degrees (from Kapustin Yar) and 65.9 74, or 82.9 degrees (from Plesetsk). Two unique missions in 1989-1990 were put into 180 km x 1550 km orbits at 65.8 degrees. With this higher apogee the payload was reduced to 10 Romb subsatellites.

Typical orbit: 382 x 567 km, 63.6 deg inclinaton. Length: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Maximum Diameter: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Span: 2.00 m (6.50 ft).

Taifun-2 Chronology
  • 1971 October 1 - Taifun-2 development approved. -
    Decree 'On the Development of an Adjustment Complex with the Taifun-2' Artificial Satellite--approval of work on the Taifun-2 system' was issued.

  • 1976 April 28 - Cosmos 816 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 950 kg (2,090 lb). Perigee: 453 km (281 mi). Apogee: 566 km (351 mi). Inclination: 65.90 deg. Period: 94.80 min.
    Released 24 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1976 December 17 - Cosmos 885 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Perigee: 433 km (269 mi). Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Inclination: 65.90 deg. Period: 94.10 min.
    Released 18 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1977 April 27 - Cosmos 906 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 464 km (288 mi). Apogee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 50.60 deg. Period: 94.40 min.
    Released 1 Romb radar calibration subsatellite. Possible partially failed spacecraft bus.

  • 1977 May 30 - Cosmos 913 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 94.50 min.
    Released 21 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1977 December 8 - Cosmos 965 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 465 km (288 mi). Apogee: 516 km (320 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 94.40 min.
    Released 24 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1978 December 22 - Cosmos 1065 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 1,170 kg (2,570 lb). Perigee: 348 km (216 mi). Apogee: 544 km (338 mi). Inclination: 50.60 deg. Period: 93.50 min.
    Radar calibration. Released 7 Romb radar calibration subsatellites. Possible partially failed spacecraft bus.

  • 1979 July 6 - Cosmos 1112 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 1,190 kg (2,620 lb). Perigee: 357 km (221 mi). Apogee: 541 km (336 mi). Inclination: 50.60 deg. Period: 93.50 min.
    Radar calibration. Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1980 June 6 - Cosmos 1186 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Perigee: 388 km (241 mi). Apogee: 414 km (257 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 92.60 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1980 July 31 - Cosmos 1204 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Perigee: 349 km (216 mi). Apogee: 546 km (339 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.50 min.
    Radar calibration. Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1981 September 28 - Cosmos 1311 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Perigee: 462 km (287 mi). Apogee: 513 km (318 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 94.30 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1982 January 29 - Cosmos 1335 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 476 km (295 mi). Apogee: 513 km (318 mi). Inclination: 74.10 deg. Period: 94.50 min.
    Radar calibration; replaced Cosmos 1186. Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1982 March 4 - Romb - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1982 April 21 - Cosmos 1351 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 348 km (216 mi). Apogee: 548 km (340 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.60 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1982 July 29 - Cosmos 1397 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 343 km (213 mi). Apogee: 539 km (334 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.40 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1983 January 25 - Romb - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.
    Carried Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1983 April 19 - Cosmos 1453 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 434 km (269 mi). Apogee: 466 km (289 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 93.60 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1983 May 26 - Cosmos 1465 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 349 km (216 mi). Apogee: 541 km (336 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.50 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1983 August 31 - Cosmos 1494 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 309 km (192 mi). Apogee: 413 km (256 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 91.80 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1983 September 30 - Cosmos 1501 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Perigee: 437 km (271 mi). Apogee: 472 km (293 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 93.70 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1984 September 27 - Cosmos 1601 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Perigee: 387 km (240 mi). Apogee: 414 km (257 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 92.60 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1985 June 19 - Cosmos 1662 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Perigee: 386 km (239 mi). Apogee: 410 km (250 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 92.50 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1985 October 2 - Cosmos 1688 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Perigee: 320 km (190 mi). Apogee: 434 km (269 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 92.10 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1986 September 3 - Cosmos 1776 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Perigee: 403 km (250 mi). Apogee: 417 km (259 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1987 January 22 - Cosmos 1815 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: LC107/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Perigee: 336 km (208 mi). Apogee: 507 km (315 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.00 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1988 July 28 - Cosmos 1960 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Perigee: 369 km (229 mi). Apogee: 379 km (235 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 92.00 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1989 February 14 - Cosmos 2002 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Perigee: 179 km (111 mi). Apogee: 1,525 km (947 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 102.00 min.
    Released 10 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1990 February 6 - Cosmos 2059 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Perigee: 184 km (114 mi). Apogee: 1,585 km (984 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 102.70 min.
    Released 10 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1990 April 25 - Cosmos 2075 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Perigee: 418 km (259 mi). Apogee: 439 km (272 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 93.20 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1990 November 28 - Cosmos 2106 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Perigee: 458 km (284 mi). Apogee: 469 km (291 mi). Inclination: 82.50 deg. Period: 93.90 min.
    Released 27 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1991 June 25 - Romb - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. FAILURE: Second stage malfunction - no stable orbit.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites.

  • 1995 March 2 - Cosmos 2306 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Perigee: 466 km (289 mi). Apogee: 513 km (318 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 94.20 min.
    Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites. Reentered on October 30, 2000.

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.
  • Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997..
  • Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003.
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