Foton

The Nauka containers were flown as piggy-back payloads aboard Zenit reconnaissance satellites. They served a dual purpose. Mounted on the forward end of the re-entry sphere, they provided ballast on the spacecraft during its mission. This was needed to balance service modules on late-model Zenits which were much heavier than the original design. When the Zenit had completed its work, the Nauka could be released for autonomous flight.

Zenit reconnaissance satellites from the beginning carried small supplemental experimental packages, for example meteoroid or cosmic particle detectors. In 1968, aboard Zenit number 80, the Nauka autonomous sub-satellite was first flown. Over 40 Nauka containers were installed on Zenit-2 and Zenit-2M spacecraft, and they achieved noteworthy results in scientific and military space research. Naukas were used to study radiation belts; establish radiation standards; establish the characteristics of the earth-space interface; and develop new instruments. 23 autonomous Nauka sub-satellites undertook methodical research into geophysics, meteorology, and cosmic rays. Others tested new systems for the Yantar reconnaissance satellite.

• 1968 March 21 - Nauka - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Apogee: 263 km (163 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 89.08 min.
  

• 1968 June 21 - Nauka - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 213 km (132 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.56 min.
  

• 1968 September 23 - Nauka - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 274 km (170 mi). Inclination: 71.30 deg. Period: 89.23 min.
  

• 1969 November 12 - Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 188 km (116 mi). Apogee: 334 km (207 mi). Inclination: 65.40 deg. Period: 89.73 min.
  

• 1971 May 6 - Nauka - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Apogee: 257 km (159 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 89.02 min.
  

• 1971 June 24 - Nauka - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 239 km (148 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 88.88 min.
  

• 1971 October 7 - Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 288 km (178 mi). Inclination: 65.40 deg. Period: 89.36 min.
  

• 1971 December 3 - Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/3. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. FAILURE: Failure.
  

• 1972 March 4 - Nauka Cosmos 477 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Apogee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.38 min.
  

• 1972 April 6 - Nauka Cosmos 484 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 168 km (104 mi). Apogee: 177 km (109 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 87.94 min.
  

• 1972 May 17 - Nauka Cosmos 490 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 209 km (129 mi). Apogee: 258 km (160 mi). Inclination: 65.30 deg. Period: 89.17 min.
  

• 1972 September 15 - Nauka Cosmos 518 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 196 km (121 mi). Apogee: 271 km (168 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.17 min.
  

• 1972 October 18 - Nauka Cosmos 525 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 191 km (118 mi). Apogee: 258 km (160 mi). Inclination: 65.30 deg. Period: 88.99 min.
  

• 1973 March 22 - Nauka Cosmos 552 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Apogee: 283 km (175 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.25 min.
  

• 1973 April 25 - Nauka Cosmos 555 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.45 min.
  

• 1973 May 25 - Nauka Cosmos 561 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 281 km (174 mi). Inclination: 65.30 deg. Period: 89.36 min.
  

• 1973 October 3 - Cosmos 596 Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.
  

• 1974 January 24 - Cosmos 629 Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.
  

• 1974 March 14 - Nauka Cosmos 635 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 303 km (188 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.52 min.
  

• 1974 July 26 - Nauka Cosmos 669 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 221 km (137 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.69 min.
  

• 1974 August 30 - Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. FAILURE: Failure.
  

• 1974 November 1 - Cosmos 692 Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.
  

• 1975 March 26 - Nauka Cosmos 721 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 215 km (133 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.59 min.
  

• 1975 April 18 - Nauka Cosmos 728 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 313 km (194 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.63 min.
  

• 1975 May 21 - Nauka Cosmos 731 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 286 km (177 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 89.35 min.
  

• 1975 June 27 - Nauka Cosmos 747 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 188 km (116 mi). Apogee: 281 km (174 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.19 min.
  

• 1975 September 23 - Cosmos 769 Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.
  

• 1975 October 17 - Nauka Cosmos 776 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 272 km (169 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.16 min.
  

• 1975 November 21 - Nauka Cosmos 780 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Apogee: 268 km (166 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.15 min.
  

• 1975 December 3 - Nauka Cosmos 784 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Apogee: 217 km (134 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.71 min.
  

• 1976 August 12 - Nauka Cosmos 848 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.29 min.
  

• 1976 September 22 - Nauka Cosmos 856 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 290 km (180 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.39 min.
  

• 1976 November 1 - Nauka Cosmos 865 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 214 km (132 mi). Apogee: 431 km (267 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 90.98 min.
  

• 1977 March 17 - Nauka Cosmos 898 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 208 km (129 mi). Apogee: 219 km (136 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.77 min.
  

• 1977 May 31 - Nauka Cosmos 914 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 200 km (120 mi). Apogee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.41 min.
  

• 1977 December 12 - Nauka Cosmos 966 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.24 min.
  

• 1977 December 27 - Nauka Cosmos 973 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 312 km (193 mi). Inclination: 71.40 deg. Period: 89.61 min.
  

• 1978 May 5 - Nauka Cosmos 1004 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 202 km (125 mi). Apogee: 414 km (257 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 90.68 min.
  

• 1978 September 19 - Nauka Cosmos 1032 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 171 km (106 mi). Apogee: 187 km (116 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.07 min.
  

• 1978 December 14 - Nauka Cosmos 1061 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Apogee: 296 km (183 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.43 min.
  

• 1979 January 11 - Nauka Cosmos 1070 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.29 min.
  

• 1979 February 16 - Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. FAILURE: Failure.
  

• 1979 May 25 - Nauka Cosmos 1102 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 162 km (100 mi). Apogee: 180 km (110 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 87.91 min.
  

• 1979 June 12 - Nauka Cosmos 1106 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
  

• 1979 August 17 - Cosmos 1122 Nauka - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.