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US-PU

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US-P Credit: © Mark Wade

AKA: 17F120;US-PM. Status: Operational 1993. First Launch: 1993-03-30. Last Launch: 2006-06-24. Number: 13 . Gross mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb).

The nuclear-powered Pirs system was abandoned in 1988 after a few test flights due to continued reliability problems and international incidents when the reactor cores of the satellites inadvertently crashed to the earth. Since Tselina-2 was accomplishing the naval SIGINT mission, it would seem that the US-P passive design was modified to allow more ship location and targeting capability, probably using systems and software developed for PIRS-1. A universal version of the US design, perhaps designated US-PU, began flying in 1993 in replacement of both the US-A and US-P earlier generation spacecraft. These modernized spacecraft were stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit, probably to provide an improved signal/target localization capability.

Specifications for the second-generation MKRTs system were developed co-operatively by TZ MO, VMP, GUKOS, and TsNII Kometa (Savin) in 1978-1980. Following approval by NTK and VPK, the development was to have begun in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (1981-1985). A resolution of June 1981 called for completion of a draft project for the Phase 1 Pirs-1 system by the end of 1982.

The complete Ideogramma-Pirs system was to have been deployed during the Twelfth Five year plan (1986-1990). The radio and radiotechnical SIGINT mission of the first generation of naval reconnaissance satellites would be handled by the interservice Tselina-2. The project was given the code name Ideogramma-Pirs. Three OKB's had to collaborate on the draft project due to the use of the new Zenit launch vehicle: NPO Energia, PO Arsenal, and TsKBM. The systems technical specification was delivered to the VMF in September 1982.

Following interagency review, Arsenal presented the draft project to the VPK Military-Industrial Commission on 12 December 1982. General Designer Yu F Valov at PO Arsenal was made responsible in 1983 for the overall space system, while TsNII Kometa solved detailed systems problems. Admiral Gorshkov fiercely resisted relinquishing Navy control of the system despite the desire of the leadership for consolidation of space systems. The overall space system specification was delivered to GUKOS in September 1983, followed by a combined technical proposal. A firm program schedule finally emerged in December 1984. Phase 1 was to be deployed by 1990.

The nuclear-powered Pirs system was abandoned in 1988 after a few test flights due to continued reliability problems and international incidents when the reactor cores of the satellites inadvertently crashed to the earth.

Photo Gallery

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Cosmos 2258 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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• Cosmos 2238 - . Payload: US-PU s/n 1. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 567.00 days. Decay Date: 1994-12-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 22585 . COSPAR: 1993-018A. Apogee: 416 km (258 mi). Perigee: 402 km (249 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. First launch of new EORSAT, first of at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 0 degree ascending node. Ocean surveillance..

• Cosmos 2244 - . Payload: US-PU s/n 2. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 657.00 days. Decay Date: 1995-03-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 22643 . COSPAR: 1993-029A. Apogee: 416 km (258 mi). Perigee: 402 km (249 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. Second launch of new EORSAT, second of three stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 0 degree ascending node..

• Cosmos 2258 - . Payload: US-PY s/n 3. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 603.00 days. Decay Date: 1995-06-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 22709 . COSPAR: 1993-044A. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi). Perigee: 400 km (240 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. Third launch of new EORSAT, final of three stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 0 degree ascending node. Ocean surveillance..

• Cosmos 2264 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 4. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 564.00 days. Decay Date: 1995-08-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 22808 . COSPAR: 1993-060A. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi). Perigee: 401 km (249 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. EORSAT, first of three to be stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 215 degree ascending node. However cutbacks in program resulted in the constellation not being completed. Ocean surveillance..

• Cosmos 2293 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 5. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 497.00 days. Decay Date: 1996-05-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 23336 . COSPAR: 1994-072A. Apogee: 418 km (259 mi). Perigee: 402 km (249 mi). Inclination: 65.03 deg. Period: 92.78 min. Second launch of new EORSAT, second of three to be stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 215 degree ascending node. However cutbacks in program resulted in the constellation not being completed. Ocean surveillance..

• Cosmos 2313 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 6. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 685.00 days. Decay Date: 1997-07-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 23596 . COSPAR: 1995-028A. Apogee: 419 km (260 mi). Perigee: 410 km (250 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 87.60 min. EORSAT, first of three to be stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 143 degree ascending node. However cutbacks in program resulted in the constellation not being completed. Ocean surveillance..

• Cosmos 2326 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 7. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Duration: 660.00 days. Decay Date: 1997-11-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 23748 . COSPAR: 1995-071A. Apogee: 415 km (257 mi). Perigee: 406 km (252 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 87.20 min. EORSAT, placed in 215 degree ascending node orbital slot. Ocean surveillance; also performed astrophysics research..

• Cosmos 2335 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 8. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 1999-01-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 24670 . COSPAR: 1996-069A. Apogee: 418 km (259 mi). Perigee: 403 km (250 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. EORSAT, second of three to be stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 143 degree ascending node. However cutbacks in program resulted in the constellation not being completed. Still in operation as of December 1997..

• Cosmos 2347 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 9. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 1999-12-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 25088 . COSPAR: 1997-079A. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi). Perigee: 403 km (250 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. EORSAT, in the 217 degree ascending node slot. Still in operation as of December 1997..

• Cosmos 2367 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 10. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Manufacturer: Arsenal. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 2002-07-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 26040 . COSPAR: 1999-072A. Apogee: 418 km (259 mi). Perigee: 404 km (251 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg.

  Passive naval electronic intelligence satellite. The satellite was placed in an initial 147 km x 442 km orbit at 65 degree inclination. The US-PM's propulsion module fired at apogee to circularize the orbit. Replaced the only previous remaining US-PM satellite which ended operations in November and reentered earlier in December 1999.

• Cosmos 2383 - . Payload: US-PM s/n 11. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Manufacturer: Arsenal. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 2004-03-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 27053 . COSPAR: 2001-057A. Apogee: 415 km (257 mi). Perigee: 404 km (251 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg.

  Signal Intelligence Satellite. Launch delayed December 19. The booster put the satellite into an initial orbit of 145 x 405 km x 65.0 deg. At apogee the satellite ignited its own propulsion system to increase velocity by about 70-80 m/s and circularize the orbit.

• Cosmos 2405 - . Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Manufacturer: Arsenal. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 2006-06-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 28350 . COSPAR: 2004-020A. Apogee: 417 km (259 mi). Perigee: 405 km (251 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. Original reported name Cosmos 2407..

• Cosmos 2421 - . Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Manufacturer: Arsenal. Program: EORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-PU. Decay Date: 2006-06-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 29246 . COSPAR: 2006-026A. Apogee: 414 km (257 mi). Perigee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.50 min.