Encyclopedia entry

Tselina-2

Spacecraft · Ukraine

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Ukrainian military signals intelligence satellite. ELINT satellite built by KB Yuzhnoye (bus), TsNIRTI Minradioprom (ELINT payload), Russia. Launched 1984 - 2007.

Improved model of the Tselina ELINT satellite with increased frequency range and on-board method of determining the position of fixed transmitters.

Based on the first generation Tselina ELINT, TSNII-KS at the beginning of the 1970's developed the specifications for an improved model. The original Tselina-2 design was authorized in March 1973 and handled by prime contractor TsNIRTI Minradioprom (M E Zaslovskiy) for the ELINT equipment and KB Yuzhnoye (KB-3, B S Khimrov) for the spacecraft bus. The launch vehicle was by OKB MEI Minvuza (A F Bogomolov) and the encrypted communications system by 0-TsNII KS MO. The draft project was drawn up in the first quarter of 1974 and the MO approved the TTZ in May 1974. After a long review process the VPK issued the project plan for development of the system in December 1976.

The new TTZ specification called for a satellite with increased mass and lifetime. This would be launched by the Zenit booster and be a universal Army-Navy system, replacing the separate earlier-generation systems. Data received would be transmitted directly to ground stations via geosynchronous communications satellites.

Delays in development of the Zenit launch vehicle resulted in a revised schedule in a VPK decree of 27 April 1979, with trials then to begin in the second quarter of 1981. Finally the Ministry of Defense gave up waiting for the Zenit and a resolution was issued in September 1984 to launch the first two trials flights by Proton booster in 1984 and 1985. Gherman Titov was in charge of the state commission that oversaw Zenit-boosted trials flights. These began in 1985 and the system was finally accepted into service in 1987. On the sixth attempt the satellite was lost in a catastrophic launch disaster.

Tselina-2 had a vertically-stacked configuration and was 3-axis stabilized. The Korvet radio reception system was used.

More at: Tselina-2.

Family: Medium earth orbit, SIGINT
Country: Ukraine
Launch Vehicles: Proton, Proton-K/DM-2, Zenit-2, Zenit-2M
Projects: Tselina
Launch Sites: Baikonur, Baikonur LC200/40, Baikonur LC200/39, Baikonur LC45/1, Baikonur LC45/2
Agency: MO, Yuzhnoye
Bibliography: 102, 2, 274, 276, 279, 4, 445, 5, 552, 554, 6, 67, 6996, 13300, 13301, 13302

Photo Gallery

Tselina-2
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Cosmos 1697
Credit: Manufacturer Image

Chronology

30 events

1973 March

Tselina-2 ELINT satellite authorised - . Nation: Russia. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.
The improved model had an increased frequency range and on-board method of determining the position of fixed transmitters. The Tselina-2 prime contractors were TsNIRTI Minradioprom (M E Zaslovskiy) for the ELINT equipment and KB Yuzhnoye (KB-3, B S Khimrov) for the spacecraft bus. The launch vehicle was by OKB MEI Minvuza (A F Bogomolov) and the encrypted communications system by 0-TsNII KS MO.

1974 May

Tselina-2 specifications approved. - . Nation: Russia. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. The draft project was drawn up in the first quarter of 1974 and the MO approved the TTZ in May 1974..

1976 December

Military-Industrial Commission approves Tselina-2 development plan. - . Nation: Russia. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. After a long review process the VPK issued the project plan for development of the system in December 1976. It would now use the new Zenit launch vehicle..

1980 December

First Tselina-2 spacecraft completed. - . Nation: Russia. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.
The first flight trials system was completed in December 1980, but delays in the development of the Zenit launch vehicle meant that the first two trials flights had to be aboard Proton boosters in 1984 and 1985. Zenit-boosted flights began in 1985 and the system was accepted into service in 1987.

1984 September 28

14:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC200/39. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2.

Cosmos 1603 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 1. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 15333 . COSPAR: 1984-106A. Apogee: 863 km (536 mi). Perigee: 832 km (516 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.90 min. First launch of new Tselina-2 ELINT satellite. .

1985 May 30

14:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC200/40. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2.

Cosmos 1656 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 2. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 15755 . COSPAR: 1985-042A. Apogee: 852 km (529 mi). Perigee: 802 km (498 mi). Inclination: 71.10 deg. Period: 101.40 min.

1985 October 22

07:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1697 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 3 (Mass Model). Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 16181 . COSPAR: 1985-097A. Apogee: 853 km (530 mi). Perigee: 843 km (523 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.90 min. First launch of new Tselina-2 ELINT satellite on Zenit-2 launch vehicle..

1985 December 28

09:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. Launch Pad: LC45/pad?. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage failed to ignite. Partial Failure.. Failed Stage: 2.

Cosmos 1714 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 4. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. Decay Date: 1986-02-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 16434 . COSPAR: 1985-121A. Apogee: 850 km (520 mi). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 94.70 min. Tselina-2 ELINT satellite placed in unusable orbit due to second stage failure..

1986 July 30

08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1767 - . Payload: Mass Model. Mass: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. Decay Date: 1986-08-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 16883 . COSPAR: 1986-056A. Apogee: 205 km (127 mi). Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 88.50 min. Instrumented Tselina-2 mock-up, with mass to test maximum payload capacity of Zenit launch vehicle. Officially: Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space..

1987 March 18

08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1833 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 5 (Mass Model). Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 17589 . COSPAR: 1987-027A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 70.90 deg. Period: 101.90 min.

1987 May 13

05:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1844 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 6. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 17973 . COSPAR: 1987-041A. Apogee: 851 km (528 mi). Perigee: 844 km (524 mi). Inclination: 70.90 deg. Period: 101.90 min.

1988 May 15

09:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1943 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 7. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 19119 . COSPAR: 1988-039A. Apogee: 851 km (528 mi). Perigee: 837 km (520 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.80 min.

1988 November 23

14:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1980 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 8. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 19649 . COSPAR: 1988-102A. Apogee: 849 km (527 mi). Perigee: 841 km (522 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.80 min.

1990 May 22

05:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/2. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2082 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 9. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 20624 . COSPAR: 1990-046A. Apogee: 857 km (532 mi). Perigee: 838 km (520 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.90 min.

1990 October 4

Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/2. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: First stage engine exploded after 3 seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.

Tselina-2 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 10. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: UNKS. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.

1991 August 30

08:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage exploded due to heating problems in main engine.. Failed Stage: 2.

Tselina-2 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 11. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: UNKS. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.

1992 February 5

Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage malfunction due to heating problems in main engine.. Failed Stage: 2.

Tselina-2 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 12. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: UNKS. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.

1992 November 17

07:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2219 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 13. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 22219 . COSPAR: 1992-076A. Apogee: 854 km (530 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.90 min.

1992 December 25

05:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2227 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 14. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 22284 . COSPAR: 1992-093A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 101.90 min.

1993 March 26

02:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2237 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 15. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 22565 . COSPAR: 1993-016A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 847 km (526 mi). Inclination: 70.90 deg. Period: 102.00 min.

1993 September 16

07:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2263 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 16. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 22802 . COSPAR: 1993-059A. Apogee: 857 km (532 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 70.90 deg. Period: 102.00 min.

1994 April 23

08:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2278 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 17. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23087 . COSPAR: 1994-023A. Apogee: 857 km (532 mi). Perigee: 846 km (525 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 102.00 min.

1994 November 24

09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2297 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 18. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23404 . COSPAR: 1994-077A. Apogee: 857 km (532 mi). Perigee: 845 km (525 mi). Inclination: 71.01 deg. Period: 101.96 min.

1995 October 31

20:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2322 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 19. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23704 . COSPAR: 1995-058A. Apogee: 854 km (530 mi). Perigee: 847 km (526 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 102.00 min.

1996 September 4

09:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 2333 - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 20. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2. USAF Sat Cat: 24297 . COSPAR: 1996-051A. Apogee: 852 km (529 mi). Perigee: 849 km (527 mi). Inclination: 70.90 deg. Period: 101.90 min. New heavy ELINT class..

1997 May 20

07:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Strut in first stage engine failed at T+48 seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.

Heavy ELINT - . Payload: Tselina-2 no. 21. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VKS. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-2.

1998 July 28