Zenit-4MT
Exploded view-Zenit
Article Number: 11F629. Manufacturer's Designation: 4KT. Code Name: Orion. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Destination: Surveillance Orbit. Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Manufacturer: Kozlov.

Special version of Zenit developed for topographical photography. This was developed by OKB-1 Filial 1 based on the Zenit-4M. It utilized the SA-106 topographic camera from the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Factory, and a laser altimeter and doppler apparatus developed by NPO Radiopribor. The draft project was completed in 1968. Flight trials aboard the Soyuz launch vehicle began in 1971 from Plesetsk. Trials were completed in 1975 and the system was accepted into service in 1976. Launch vehicle was Soyuz 11A511M, the only spacecraft to use this launch vehicle. Typical orbital profile: inclination 82.3 degrees, 81.3 degrees with altitude of 215-245 km; inclination 72.8 degrees with altitude of 200-325 km; inclination 62.8 degrees with altitude of 230-275 km. Designed duration: 12 or 13 days. Transmission frequencies observed in West: 19.994 FSK.

Typical orbit: 251 km circular orbit, 73.1 deg inclination. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M, Soyuz 11A511U.

Zenit-4MT Chronology
  • 1971 December 27 - Cosmos 470 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.00 min. Duration: 10.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; deployed science capsule.

  • 1972 December 27 - Cosmos 541 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 218 km (135 mi). Apogee: 348 km (216 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 90.20 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1972 July 13 - Cosmos 502 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 203 km (126 mi). Apogee: 262 km (162 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.10 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; carried science package.

  • 1973 December 17 - Cosmos 616 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 206 km (128 mi). Apogee: 332 km (206 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 89.90 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1973 June 27 - Cosmos 576 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Apogee: 332 km (206 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1974 June 29 - Cosmos 664 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 341 km (211 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 90.00 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1974 November 4 - Cosmos 693 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 219 km (136 mi). Apogee: 243 km (150 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 89.10 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1975 March 21 - Cosmos 720 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.30 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule.

  • 1975 September 12 - Cosmos 759 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 231 km (143 mi). Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.60 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule.

  • 1976 March 31 - Cosmos 811 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511M. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 206 km (128 mi). Apogee: 338 km (210 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 90.00 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources; deployed capsule.

  • 1976 September 21 - Cosmos 855 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Perigee: 221 km (137 mi). Apogee: 321 km (199 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 89.90 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources; deployed capsule.

  • 1977 June 10 - Cosmos 916 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 255 km (158 mi). Apogee: 304 km (188 mi). Inclination: 62.70 deg. Period: 90.10 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources; deployed capsule.

  • 1978 December 28 - Cosmos 1069 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 254 km (157 mi). Apogee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 89.90 min. Duration: 13.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks; separated capsule.

  • 1978 February 8 - Cosmos 988 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 201 km (124 mi). Apogee: 335 km (208 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.90 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks.

  • 1978 November 1 - Cosmos 1046 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 202 km (125 mi). Apogee: 324 km (201 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks; deployed capsule.

  • 1979 August 3 - Cosmos 1119 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 213 km (132 mi). Apogee: 245 km (152 mi). Inclination: 81.40 deg. Period: 89.00 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; separated capsule.

  • 1979 October 5 - Cosmos 1139 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 329 km (204 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Duration: 13.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks; separated capsule.

  • 1980 May 15 - Cosmos 1180 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 245 km (152 mi). Apogee: 279 km (173 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks; separated capsule.

  • 1980 September 23 - Cosmos 1211 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 211 km (131 mi). Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). Inclination: 82.40 deg. Period: 89.00 min. Duration: 11.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy, earth resources tasks; separated capsule.

  • 1981 January 16 - Cosmos 1239 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 210 km (130 mi). Apogee: 231 km (143 mi). Inclination: 82.30 deg. Period: 88.90 min. Duration: 12.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy.

  • 1981 September 18 - Cosmos 1309 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Apogee: 257 km (159 mi). Inclination: 82.30 deg. Period: 89.20 min. Duration: 13.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy.

  • 1982 August 3 - Cosmos 1398 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 211 km (131 mi). Apogee: 231 km (143 mi). Inclination: 82.40 deg. Period: 88.90 min. Duration: 10.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy.

  • 1982 January 12 - Cosmos 1332 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Perigee: 207 km (128 mi). Apogee: 251 km (155 mi). Inclination: 82.30 deg. Period: 89.00 min. Duration: 13.00 days.

    Military topography satellite; returned film capsule; also performed mapping, geodesy.

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • Grahn, Sven, Sven Grahn's Space History Pages, . Sven Grahn's occasional essays on specific topics of the Russian and Chinese space programs are outstanding. Accessed at: http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/.
  • 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.
  • Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997.. Two-volume official history of the (now defunct) Russin space forces.
  • Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "Apparati TsSKB dlya issledobanniya prirodnikh resursov Zemli", 1996, Issue 6, page 40.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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