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Resurs F2
Part of Vostok

Resurs F-2

Resurs F-2
Credit: © Carsten Wiedemann

Russian earth land resources satellite. Adaptation of recoverable Vostok spacecraft for remote sensing. Earth Observation (film return) satellite built by TsSKB, Russia. Launched 1987 - 1995.

AKA: 17F42. Status: Operational 1987. First Launch: 1987-12-26. Last Launch: 1995-09-26. Number: 11 . Gross mass: 6,450 kg (14,210 lb).

Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation. Film resolution 9-12 m black and white, 15-18 m multispectral (4-6 spectral bands). Swath width 150 km; total area covered per mission 20.7 million square km. Missions: Cosmos 1906, Cosmos 1965, Cosmos 1990, Resurs-F7. Transmission frequencies observed in West: 231.5 PCM-FM.

In 1987 a more capable version of the Resurs-F1, the Resurs-F2, began operations. The most significant improvement was the addition of two small solar arrays attached to the base of the orbital propulsion unit which permitted active missions for up to a full month. The first mission in late 1987 by Kosmos 1906 was not entirely successful, and the spacecraft was intentionally destroyed in orbit. Four more missions were conducted during 1988-1990, followed by three flights in 1991- 1992.

The Resurs-F2 photographic system differed from that of its predecessor. The SA-M system with its MK-4 camera combined the high resolution of the SA-20M with the multi-spectral capability of the SA-34. Resurs-F2 offered a ground swath of 150 km with a resolution of 5-8 m in six spectral bands from 0.40 micrometer to 0.86 micrometer. As many as 2,700 photographs with image motion compensation and frames 180 mm by 180 mm could be shot on a single mission. The SA-M was also linked to the SA-3R stellar camera which serves the same purpose as the Resurs-F1's SA-33.

Prior to 1991, Resurs-F2 spacecraft would normally maintain a mean altitude of between 260 km and 270 km, requiring only two orbital maneuvers per 30-day mission. Beginning with Resurs-F 10(21 May 1991), a new profile was chosen with mean altitudes between 225 km and 235 km but with a corresponding requirement to perform orbital adjustments more frequently, e.g., six times per mission. This pattern had previously been used primarily by the military topographic mapping satellites which debuted in 1981 and were flown at inclinations of 65 degrees and 70 degrees. The subsequent Resurs-F2 flights, Resurs-F 13 (21 August 1991) and Resurs-F 14(29 April 1992), were virtually identical to Resurs-F 10, both in character and duration. Resurs-F 17 (May-June 1993), the only Resurs-F2 of the 1993-1994 period, also followed this pattern.


More at: Resurs F2.

Family: Earth, Earth land resource sat, Surveillance orbit. Country: Russia. Engines: 11D82M. Launch Vehicles: R-7, Soyuz-U, Soyuz-U-PVB. Projects: Resurs. Launch Sites: Plesetsk, Plesetsk LC41/1, Plesetsk LC43/4, Plesetsk LC43/3, Plesetsk LC16/2. Agency: MOM, Kozlov bureau. Bibliography: 102, 2, 276, 374, 6, 13016.
Photo Gallery

Resurs F2Resurs F2
Credit: © Mark Wade


Resurs-F2Resurs-F2
Credit: via Dmitri Pieson


Resurs F2Resurs F2
Resurs F2 cutaway drawing


Resurs F-14Resurs F-14
Credit: Manufacturer Image


Resurs F-2Resurs F-2
Credit: © Carsten Wiedemann



1987 December 26 - . 11:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1988 August 23 - . 11:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1989 January 12 - . 11:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1989 February 10 - . 16:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1989 August 15 - . 10:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1990 July 17 - . 09:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1991 May 21 - . 09:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1991 August 21 - . 10:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1992 April 29 - . 09:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1993 May 21 - . 09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.
1995 September 26 - . 11:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.

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