Program: RORSAT. Objective: Surveillance. Type: Naval Radarsat. Overview: Soviet military nuclear-reactor powered radar naval reconnaissance satellite network. Major Events:
1965 December 27 - Cosmos 102. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 11A510.
Prototype RORSAT hardware using chemical batteries in place of nuclear reactor.
1966 July 20 - Cosmos 125. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 11A510.
Prototype RORSAT hardware using chemical batteries in place of nuclear reactor. Lost on the 52nd revolution as a result of a possible failure in the chemical power units placed on board instead of the nuclear BES-5.
1967 December 27 - Cosmos 198. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon.
Prototype RORSAT hardware using chemical batteries in place of BES-5 nuclear reactor. First satellite to be boosted to 900 km storage orbit.
1968 March 22 - Cosmos 209. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon.
RORSAT hardware, representative of production hardware, but using chemical batteries in place of BES-5 nuclear reactor.
1969 January 25 - US-A Mass Model. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon.
RORSAT hardware, representative of production hardware, but using chemical batteries in place of BES-5 nuclear reactor.
1970 October 3 - Cosmos 367. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; probably used chemical batteries.
1971 April 1 - Cosmos 402. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; probably used chemical batteries.
1971 December 25 - Cosmos 469. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. First RORSAT flight confirmed by Russian source to have had BES-5 nuclear reactor.
1972 August 21 - Cosmos 516. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1973 April 25 - RORSAT failure. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. Last launch of original US-A design by Savin's KB. American 'sniffer' aircraft flew over the Pacific after this failure looking for radioisotopes traces in order to characterise the reactor.
1973 December 27 - Cosmos 626. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. First test of modernised design by KB Arsenal.
1974 May 15 - Cosmos 651. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1974 May 17 - Cosmos 654. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1975 April 2 - Cosmos 723. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1975 April 7 - Cosmos 724. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1975 December 12 - Cosmos 785. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered; failed immediately after reaching orbit.
1976 July 2 - Cosmos 838. Spacecraft: US-P. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance. Exploded June/July '76.
1976 October 17 - Cosmos 860. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1976 October 21 - Cosmos 861. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1976 November 26 - Cosmos 868. Spacecraft: US-P. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
1977 September 16 - Cosmos 952. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1977 September 18 - Cosmos 954. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered; re-entered over Canada, spreading radioactive debris.
1980 April 29 - Cosmos 1176. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered; test flight of modified safer design.
1981 March 5 - Cosmos 1249. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1981 April 21 - Cosmos 1266. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1981 August 24 - Cosmos 1299. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1982 May 14 - Cosmos 1365. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1982 June 1 - Cosmos 1372. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1982 August 30 - Cosmos 1402. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1982 October 2 - Cosmos 1412. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1984 June 29 - Cosmos 1579. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1984 October 31 - Cosmos 1607. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1985 August 1 - Cosmos 1670. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1985 August 23 - Cosmos 1677. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1986 March 21 - Cosmos 1736. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1986 August 20 - Cosmos 1771. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1987 February 1 - Cosmos 1818. Spacecraft: Plazma-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Test of new Topaz reactor, new systems, and ion engines aboard US-AM bus.
1987 June 18 - Cosmos 1860. Spacecraft: US-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered.
1987 July 10 - Cosmos 1867. Spacecraft: Plazma-A. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Test of new Topaz reactor, new systems, and ion engines aboard US-AM bus - Tested Plasma-2 SPT electric engine.