Soyuz "Yantar"
 

 


 

Since 1974 the military launched with Sojus-U launchers (formerly also Sojus-U2) special photo-reconnaissance satellites of the type Yantar.
For the accommodation of the Yantar bus a specially modified fairing is used.

 

Feniks spacecraft (Yantar-2K)

The Feniks system was the first high precision space reconnaissance satellite on base of Yantar bus with several reentry capsules. The first satellites were launched from Plesetzk cosmodrome on May 23, 1974 (Failure) and December 13, 1974.

 

Siluet & Kometa spacecraft (Yantar-1KF/1KFT)
The development of the next high precision space mapping system began at the Central Specialized Design Bureau in Samara in 1972. The Yantar-1KF system was developed on the basis of the first high precision space reconnaissance satellite Yantar-2K (Feniks) with a reentry vehicle of the previous generation of Zenit satellites being attached to it. The first Yantar-1KF (Siluet) was launched from Baikonur cosmodrome on February 18, 1981 under the official name of Kosmos-1246.

Oktant &  Kobalt spacecraft (Yantar- 4K1/-4K2)
Foreign space experts attribute these satellites to the fourth generation of Soviet/Russian photoreconnaissance satellites. At the time of their development they were called Yantar-4K1 and Yantar-4K2 during, and after being adopted by the Soviet Armed Forces Oktant/Kobalt.
The first satellite of the family was developed in the early 1970s at the Central Specialized Design Bureau in Samara. The cameras with the extended lens and a store of film were placed in the conical main descent module of the satellite. Thanks to deorbited capsules, the films were dropped to surface in three portions: two in capsules and one with the camera in its reentry vehicle. The first satellite in the Yantar-4K series was launched on April 27, 1979.
 

Terilen & Neman spacecraft (Yantar- 4KS1/-4KS2)

The Russian Defense Ministry does have a new system for optical-electronic reconnaissance - satellite that was designated Terilen/Neman (Yantar-4KS1 and Yantar-4KS2) after being adopted for service. The data from it is returned via Geizer transmitter satellites to ground controllers in almost real time. The lifetime of such satellites is about one year. However, so far there have been no reports that images from Neman would be offered for commercial use. The spacecrafts were designed for being orbited by  Soyuz-U2  launch vehicles from Baikonur cosmodrom.

Kobalt-M  spacecraft (Yantar- 4K2M)

The Yantar-4K2M (Kobalt-M) system  is a changed variant of Yantar-4K2. The first satellite was launched on September 24, 2004  under the official name of Kosmos-2410.


Orlets (Don) spacecraft
In May 1977 the Central Specialized Design Bureau in Samara decided to develop several new photo-intelligence satellites. The models suggested for development included the Orlets system for large swath high resolution and panoramic photography with faster data delivery.
Under the plan the system was supposed to be developed in two stages. At the first stage the main parameters were to be achieved that did not require a significant change in the satellite weight. At the second, after the development the Zenit-2 launch vehicle with a greater payload than Soyuz-U a modification satellite was supposed to be developed fully meeting the requirements of customers.

In 1981-1985 work was under way to develop Orlets of the first stage (sometimes known as Orlets-1). The satellite had a capsule machine with eight capsules. It was designed for being orbited by Soyuz-U or Soyuz-U2  launch vehicles. The first launch took place on July 18, 1989. On August 25, 1992, the system was approved for operation under the name of Don.  So far six satellites of this type have been launched. The last two operated for 102 and 120 days respectively.
When the second stage of developing Orlets was launched, Orlets-1 was evidently chosen as the prototype and a new capsule machine for 22 capsules was designed for it. Thanks to this its lifetime could be increased almost four-fold to 160-180 days leaving the pace of deorbiting ex­posed films to earth unchanged.
In 1994 the design work and ground testing of Orlets of the second generation were completed. The first flight test of Orlets-2 was conducted between August 26, 1994 and April 4, 1995. The mission lasted for 224 days. Even though Orlets-2 made only one test flight, on November 30, 1997 it was adopted for service and designated Yenisei. The second Orlets-2 was in orbit between Septembers 25, 2000 and April 20, 2001.

Resurs-DK1 & Resurs-P spacecraft

Currently two civilian projects are the closest to implementation: Resurs-P and Resurs-DK1 (Progress Space Center, Samara), the Monitor family of satellites (the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center - the Khrunichev Center, Moscow) and the Kondor family satellites (the Machine-Building Research and Production Association - NPOmash, Reutov).
In 1996 it proposed to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency the Resurs-DK project for large swath photography.  In December 1996 the agency approved the project and included it in the Federal Space Program. The operating life of Resurs-DK was set at three years.
The first Resurs-DK was supposed to be launched in 1999 or 2000. However, evidently due to financial problems the first launch was put off several times. As a result a new, simpler modification evolved with a smaller number of spectral bands. In 1997 the modification made its debut at the Paris international aerospace show in Le Bourget. A year later it was designated Resurs-DK1.
In appearance of Resurs-DK1 greatly resembles the Neman optic-electronic intelligence satellite. Evidently, both rely on the same optical equipment. The first satellite Resurs-DK1 was launched on June 15, 2006

Lotos-S  spacecraft
The Lotos-S spacecraft is a new Version. This satellite was launched on November 11, 2009.


Yantar spacecraft propulsion unit