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Relikt

Of special interest to astrophysicists is the precise nature, including anisotropy, of the universal background radiation (~2.7 degrees K) at 37 GHz. In 1983-1984 the Prognoz 9 spacecraft carried out the Relikt experiment from a unique Earth orbit of 400 km by 720,000 km in an attempt to characterize the uniformity of emissions around the celestial sphere. However, despite the spacecraft's extreme apogee (twice the distance to the Moon), interference from the Earth and Moon as well as spacecraft systems degraded the quality of the observations.

While data from Prognoz 9 was still being reduced nearly 10 years later, final preparations were underway for the Relikt-2 experiment. In addition to employing instruments with significantly greater sensitivity than the first mission, Relikt-2 will be performed far away from the Earth-Moon system around the L2 libration point about 1.5 million km from the Earth on the side opposite the Sun. The Relikt-2 satellite, which will be based on the Prognoz-M2 spacecraft bus, is scheduled for launch about 1996 after which it will conduct a close fly-by of the Moon on its third revolution in an extremely elliptical Earth orbit for a gravitational assist toward L2. Once the vehicle reaches its destination, a halo orbit around L2 will be established with an orbital period of 180 days (References 309-314).

Under serious development since 1986 in the Institute of Space Research, the Relikt-2 instrument suite now includes five separate radiometers operating at a wavelength of 1.5mm, 3.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 8.0 mm, and 13.5 mm, respectively. Each radiometer will operate through two perpendicular antennas with a 7 degree beam width: one pointed away from the Sun and the other perpendicular to the spacecraft's spin axis.

309. V. S. Avduyevskiy, et al, Zemiya I Vselennaya, July-August 1990, pp. 8-16.

310. Pisma V Astronomicheskiy, May 1992, pp. 387-395.

311. Kosmicheskiye Issledovaniya, July-August 1992, pp. 435-454; March-April 1987, pp. 163-185; January-February 1987, pp. 152-154; July-August 1992, pp. 435-454; July-August 1993, pp. 18-37; January-February 1994; pp. 3-35.

312. Krasnaya Zvezda, 19 December 1986, p. 4.

313. J. M. Lenorovitz, "Multinational Cometary Watch Group Plans New Ventures", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 10 November 1986, pp. 28-29.

314. I. A. Strukov, "Relikt-2 Project: Scientific Program and Structures, Paper IAF-90-421, 41st Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, October 1990.

315. Project Lomonosov. Astrometric Space Experiment, project description produced jointly by the four participants, 1989.

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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