| Zenit-8 | ||
Adaptation of the recoverable Vostok spacecraft for military cartographic photography, developed as a replacement for the perpetually delayed Yantar-1KF. Flight trials of the Zenit-8 were conducted over six launches in 1978-1981. The spacecraft was accepted for military service in 1983. The satellite used the camera used the Teleoir 12MK objective and the Rubin-77 camera fed with 380T film. Targets could be observed at up to 40 degrees of either side of the ground track, and operations were conducted at 230-380 km and 300-450 km orbits. Operation of the system continued until the end of the 1980's. Western description: Typical orbital profile: inclination 70 degrees with altitude of 350-420 km. Designed duration: 15 days. Transmission frequencies observed in West: 19.989 FSK; 39.978 FSK; 232.0 PPM-AM. Reference to a Resurs-F3 spacecraft appeared in 1994. The designation Resurs-T also appeared, but they were all the same as the Zenit-8 / Oblik of the Ministry of Defense. The spacecraft was virtually identical to the Resurs-F1 but carried what was called the KFA-3000 camera system with 2-3 m resolution. Two 'Resurs-T' missions were flown during 1993-1994: Kosmos 2260 (July- August 1993) and Kosmos 2281 (June 1994). These were the last flight of the Zenit-8 series. The Resurs-T designation was applied to both Zenit-2M Gektor-Priroda missions and Zenit-8 cartographic missions with civilian components. Typical orbit: 177 km x 230 km at 82 degrees inclination. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Zenit-8 Chronology
Bibliography and Further Reading
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