US-KS

Summary

Upravlyaemy Sputnik Kontinentalny Statsionarny (Russian: Управляемый Спутник Континентальный Стационарный meaning Stationary Continental Controllable Satellite), or US-KS (Russian: УС-КС), also known as Oko-S, was a series of Soviet, and later Russian, missile detection satellites launched as part of the Oko (Russian: "eye") programme.[1] US-KS was a derivative of the US-K satellite, optimised for operations in geosynchronous orbit. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1997, when launches ended in favour of the modernised US-KMO.[2] US-KS had the GRAU index 74Kh6. As of December 2015, the entire Oko programme is being replaced by the new EKS system.[3]

US-KS
ManufacturerNPO Lavochkin
Country of origin Soviet Union
 Russia
OperatorVKS
ApplicationsMissile defence
Specifications
BusUpravlyaemy Sputnik
Launch mass2,400 kilograms (5,300 lb)
RegimeGeosynchronous
Dimensions
Production
StatusRetired
Launched7
Operational0
Retired7
FailedNone known
Lost0
Maiden launchKosmos 775
8 October 1975
Last launchKosmos 2345
14 August 1997
Related spacecraft
Derived fromUS-K
DerivativesUS-KMO

Manufactured by NPO Lavochkin, US-KS satellites had a launch mass of 2,400 kilograms (5,300 lb), and a dry mass of 1,250 kilograms (2,760 lb). Built on a three-axis stabilised cylindrical bus with a diameter of 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) and a length of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in), the satellites carry 50 centimetres (20 in) infrared telescopes to detect the heat of missile exhausts.[4]

US-KS satellites were launched by Proton-K carrier rockets, with Blok DM and DM-2 upper stages. The first satellite to be launched was a prototype, which was followed by six operational spacecraft. With a spacecraft positioned at a longitude of 24° West, the Soviet Union could continuously monitor missile launches from the United States.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Zak, Anatoly. "Oko early-warning satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "US-KMO (71Kh6)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Soyuz 2-1B launches EKS-1 to upgrade Russian Early Warning System". 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  4. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "US-KS (74Kh6)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 March 2012.