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Space


Third Generation Photo Recons

The so-called third-generation photo recons are derived from the original Zenit-2 spy satellites and share many characteristics and systems with the manned Vostok spacecraft of the time and the Resurs-F1 civil Earth observation spacecraft of today. The spacecraft are approximately 2.4 m in diameter with a length of 6.5 m and a mass of about 6.3 metric tons. Film is returned (along with the entire camera system) in a spherical 2.3 m diameter, 2.4 metric ton capsule. Within each capsule is a special detonation package (originally 10 kg TNT) which is activated in the event that a malfunction would prevent a retrieval of the capsule on former Soviet territory (References 37-39).

In recent years, the launch rate of these battery-powered vehicles with lifetimes of 2-3 weeks has dropped dramatically as more capable, longer lived spacecraft have assumed medium-to-low-resolution reconnaissance duties. Only one third-generation Resurs-T spacecraft (possibly also designated Oblique)was launched from Plesetsk in each of 1993 and 1994 and both were described as fulfilling geodetic and cartographic objectives from high inclination (83 degree) orbits: Kosmos 2260 (22 July 1993) and Kosmos 2281 (7 June 1994). Characteristics of their camera systems are unknown.




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