Meteor-Priroda Credit - NASA

Soviet development of remote sensing systems in support of the national economy began with a decree in December 1971 'On development work for research on earth resources using space technology'. The result was Meteor-Priroda 1, launched on 9 July 74 into a 950 km orbit by a Vostok-2M rocket, The satellite, derived from the basic Meteor weather satellite, was equipped with a radio-television system using an optico-mechanical sensor by VNIIEM Minelektrotekhprom, A G Yosifyan, General designer. This was followed from 18 May 1976 by Meteor-Priroda 2-1, in 650 km sun-synchronous 97 degree orbits. Receiving stations were located at Goskomgidormet facilities in Moscow, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk.

Typical orbit: 649 km circular orbit, 91.1 deg inclination. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.

• 1971 December 1 - Meteor-Priroda authorised -

  Soviet development of remote sensing systems in support of the national economy began with a decree 'On development work for research on earth resources using space technology'.

• 1971 December 21 - Meteor-Priroda satellite authorised. -

  Decree 'On expansion of Work on Research of the Earth's Natural Resources by Space Systems' was issued.

• 1974 July 9 - Meteor 1-18 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Perigee: 883 km (548 mi). Apogee: 909 km (564 mi). Inclination: 81.20 deg. Period: 102.90 min.

  Conducted experimental work in studying the natural resources of the earth. Also tested plasma engine

• 1976 May 15 - Meteor 1-25 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Perigee: 829 km (515 mi). Apogee: 884 km (549 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 102.10 min.

  Continuation of experimental work in studying the natural resources of the earth.

• 1977 June 29 - Meteor 1-28 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Perigee: 332 km (206 mi). Apogee: 338 km (210 mi). Inclination: 97.40 deg. Period: 91.20 min.

  Continuation of experimental work in studying the natural resources of the earth. Acquisition of meteorological information required for use in the operational weather service.

• 1979 January 25 - Meteor 1-29 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Perigee: 546 km (339 mi). Apogee: 596 km (370 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 96.10 min.

  Obtaining information needed for research into the natural resources of the earth and the development of methods for remote sensing of the underlying surface, and obtaining meteorological information. In addition to Soviet apparatus, carried scientific ap paratus from the German Democratic Republic.

• 1981 July 10 - Meteor 1-31 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Perigee: 574 km (356 mi). Apogee: 612 km (380 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg. Period: 96.50 min.

  Also performed earth resources tasks. Acquisition of information required for continued investigation of the natural resources of the earth; development of remote sensing methods for measuring the parameters of the atmosphere and the earth's surface beneath the satellite. Carried scientific i nstruments developed in the People's Republic of Bulgaria, as well as Soviet equipment. Objects 1595 and 1596 launched by a single rocket.

• 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.

• Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003. ISBN: 0813026288. The definitive history of the Soviet manned space program in the 1960's to the early 1970's. Originally published as the the latter part of 'Challenge to Apollo' by NASA in 2000 as NASA SP-2000-4408. More at amazon.com...

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