NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1990-070D
The Strela 3 system was a communications satellite constellation devoted to military and government communications. It was a simple store-dump repeater system which were particularly useful in relaying non-essential traffic between the Russian Federation and overseas stations or forces. The Strela 3 system, which began in 1985, was launched by the Tsyklon-3 booster from the Plesetsk cosmodrome into orbits near 1400 km at inclinations of 82.6 degrees with six spacecraft stacked atop each launch vehicle. Two orbital planes were spaced 90 degrees apart, apparently each contained 10-12 operational spacecraft. Normally, two missions were conducted per year, suggesting an average spacecraft life-time of approximately 24 months. The 220 kg spacecraft had a diameter of 1.0 m and a main bus height of 1.5 m. A gravity-gradient beam was extended on-orbit to provide attitude stabilization.
Launch Date: 1990-08-08
Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-3
Launch Site: Plesetsk, U.S.S.R
Mass: 220 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office