Magion

The Czechoslovak satellite MAGION researched the magnetosphere and ionosphere of the earth.

Typical orbit: 707 x 43591 km, 74.7 deg inclinaton. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M, Molniya 8K78M, Tsyklon 3.

• 1978 October 24 - Magion 1 - Program: Intercosmos. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Mass: 15 kg (33 lb). Perigee: 404 km (251 mi). Apogee: 762 km (473 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 96.40 min.

  Ionospheric, magnetospheric studies. The Czechoslovak satellite MAGION was launched into orbit by the Soviet spacecraft Intercosmos 18. It forms a part of the scientific programme of Intercosmos 18, launched from USSR territory on 24 Oct 1978. MAGION was separated into an autonomous orbit on 14 Nov 1978. General function: Reasearch of the magnetosphere and ionosphere of the earth (magnetosphere-ionosphere satellite).

• 1989 September 28 - Magion 2 - Program: Intercosmos. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 3. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 498 km (309 mi). Apogee: 2,441 km (1,516 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 115.30 min.

  Deployed from Intercosmos 24 10/3/89; examined signal propogation from Intercosmos 24. Research of the magnetosphere and the ionosphere of the Earth. The Czechoslovak satellite Magion 2 was launched into orbit by the Soviet spacecraft Intercosmos 24. Magion 2 forms a part of the scientific programme of Intercosmos 24 (project Aktivnyj) Exe cution of the scientific programme of the 'Aktivny' project in conjunction with Intercosmos-24, permitting simultaneous spatially separating investigations of plasma processes in circumterrestrial space.

• 1991 December 18 - Magion 3 - Program: Intercosmos. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 3. Mass: 52 kg (114 lb). Perigee: 436 km (270 mi). Apogee: 2,943 km (1,828 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 120.20 min.

  Separated from Intercosmos 25 on 12/28/91; geophysical. Research of magnetosphere nad the ionosphere of the Earth by passive and active methods. Launched on 18 Dec 1991. The Czechoslovak satellite Magion 3 forms, together with the spacecraft Intercosmos 25, part of the Apex scientific project. Magion 3 was sep arated into an autonomous orbit on 28 Dec 1991. Magion 3 was launched into orbit by the Soviet spacecraft Intercosmos 25.

• 1995 August 2 - Magion 4 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Perigee: 17,068 km (10,605 mi). Apogee: 175,449 km (109,018 mi). Inclination: 70.30 deg. Period: 5,454.00 min.

  Deployed from Interbol-1 on 8/3/95; solar wind studies in conjunction with Interbol-1.

• 1996 August 29 - Magion 5 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Perigee: 1,366 km (848 mi). Apogee: 18,608 km (11,562 mi). Inclination: 63.60 deg. Period: 347.20 min.

  Deployed from Interbol-2 on 8/30/96; auroral studies in conjunction with Interbol-2.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.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.

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

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