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Seventh Generation Photo Recons

In August, 1994, an apparently new type of photographic reconnaissance spacecraft was launched as Kosmos 2290. Although its initial orbit of 212 km by 292 km at an inclination of 64.8 degrees was not unusual, its use of a Zenit-2 launch vehicle was. Throughout Kosmos 2290's 221-day mission, the spacecraft behaved similarly to other Russian photo recons, although its apogee altitude was progressively raised during normal anti-drag maneuvers. Just prior to its return to Earth, the spacecraft moved into a markedly higher orbit unlike previous military spacecraft. One week later the spacecraft was de-orbited over the Pacific Ocean. In the absence of any information on Kosmos 2290 by the Russian Military Space Forces, the space craft's nature is still under investigation in the West, and the spacecraft has tentatively been designated as the first seventh-generation Photo recon (Reference 46).

REFERENCES

46. Novosti Kosmonavtiki, 10-23 September 1994, p. 44 and 26 March-8 April 1995, pp. 31-32.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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