Istrebitel Sputnik Credit - © Mark Wade

ASAT Target, launched by R-36. Evidently a derivative of the first IS-A ASAT itself. Replaced by the cheaper, lighter ASAT target designed by Yangel for launch by Kosmos launch vehicles.

Typical orbit: 778 x 1131 km, 65.8 deg inclinaton. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon, Tsyklon 2.

• 1968 April 24 - Cosmos 217 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Perigee: 140 km (80 mi). Apogee: 179 km (111 mi). Inclination: 62.30 deg. Period: 87.70 min.

  Unsuccessful launch of ASAT target. Satellite did not separate from last rocket stage. Planned launch of interceptor cancelled.

• 1968 October 19 - Cosmos 248 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Perigee: 475 km (295 mi). Apogee: 543 km (337 mi). Inclination: 62.30 deg. Period: 94.80 min.

  ASAT target. Intercepted repeatedly by Cosmos 249 on 20 October; destroyed by Cosmos 252 on 1 November.

• 1969 August 6 - Cosmos 291 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Perigee: 144 km (89 mi). Apogee: 548 km (340 mi). Inclination: 62.20 deg. Period: 91.40 min.

  Test of Tsyklon 2 booster; ASAT target mass model. Did not enter typical target orbit due to lack of on-board engine. Simulated launch of ASAT interceptor planned for the next day was cancelled.

• 1970 October 20 - Cosmos 373 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2. Mass: 650 kg (1,430 lb). Perigee: 510 km (310 mi). Apogee: 1,103 km (685 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 101.00 min.

  ASAT target. Maneuvered twice to provide target for Cosmos 374 and 375 interceptors.

• USAF Satellite Database, USAF Institute of Technology, 1995. Accessed at: ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/.

• Zheleznyakov, Aleksandr, Istoriya Rossiyskoi Sovetskoi Kosmonavtiki, "Istrebitel Sputnikov", Aleksandr Krasnikov Web Page, 1998. Accessed at: http://www.aha.ru/~kai/spaceflt/projects/istr.html.

• Voevodin, Sergey A, VSA072 - Space Apparatus, "Sergey A. Voevodin's Reports", . Accessed at: http://home.attbi.com/~rusaerog/spacecraft.html.

• JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Accessed at: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.

• Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Accessed at: http://www.skyrocket.de/space.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.