| Prognoz | |
| Manufacturer: | Lavochkin |
| Country: | Soviet Union |
| Applications: | Scientific research |
| Orbits: | HEO |
| Operator: | RVSN |
| Status: | Retired |
| Launched: | 12 |
| Retired: | 12 |
| First: | Prognoz 1 14 April 1972 |
| Last: | Prognoz 12 29 August 1996 |
| Autoconvert: | off |
| Mass: | 920kg (2,030lb) |
Prognoz, also known as SO (Solar Object, first three satellites), SO-M (SO-modified, next seven satellites), and SO-M2 (last two satellites, also known as Interball), was a Soviet scientific research satellite programme. Twelve Prognoz satellites were launched between 14 April 1972, and 29 August 1996, by Molniya-M carrier rockets. The satellites were placed in high Earth orbits. The first ten Prognoz satellites were launched from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and the last two from Site 43/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[1] [2] [3]
The satellites were primarily used for Solar research; however, the later satellites were used for other kinds of research, including research into the Big Bang theory, and Earth's magnetosphere.[4] The tenth satellite was used as part of the Interkosmos programme.
| Designation[5] | Launch date/time (GMT)[6] | Mass | Apogee initial | Perigee initial | Inclination initial | Mission | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prognoz 1 | 14 April 1972, 00:54 | 845kg (1,863lb) | 199667km (124,067miles) | 1005km (624miles) | 65° | Study Solar activity | |
| Prognoz 2 | 29 June 1972, 03:47 | 845kg (1,863lb) | 201804km (125,395miles) | 517km (321miles) | 65.3° | Study Solar activity | |
| Prognoz 3 | 15 February 1973, 01:11 | 845kg (1,863lb) | 200000km (100,000miles) | 590km (370miles) | 65° | Study Solar activity | |
| Prognoz 4 | 22 December 1975, 02:08 | 905kg (1,995lb) | 199000km (124,000miles) | 634km (394miles) | 65° | Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere | |
| Prognoz 5 | 25 November 1976, 03:59 | 930kg (2,050lb) | 198560km (123,380miles) | 777km (483miles) | 65.2° | Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere | |
| Prognoz 6 | 22 September 1977, 00:51 | 910kg (2,010lb) | 197867km (122,949miles) | 488km (303miles) | 65° | Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere | |
| Prognoz 7 | 30 October 1978, 05:23 | 950kg (2,090lb) | 202627km (125,907miles) | 472km (293miles) | 64.9° | Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere UV, X-ray and Gamma ray astronomy | Carried Czechoslovakian, French, Hungarian and Swedish experiments |
| Prognoz 8 | 25 December 1980, 04:02 | 910kg (2,010lb) | 197364km (122,636miles) | 978km (608miles) | 65.8° | Study Solar radiation and Plasma, and Earth's magnetosphere | Carried Czechoslovakian, Polish and Swedish experiments |
| Prognoz 9 | 1 July 1983, 12:17 | 1060kg (2,340lb) | 700000km (400,000miles) | 480km (300miles) | 65° | Study Solar and cosmic radiation, Solar Plasma, Earth's magnetosphere and Gamma rays | Carried Czechoslovakian and French experiments |
| Prognoz 10 (Intershock) | 26 April 1985, 05:48 | 1000kg (2,000lb) | 194734km (121,002miles) | 5975km (3,713miles) | 65° | Study Solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere | Intercosmos 23. Carried Czechoslovakian experiments |
| Prognoz 11 (Interball Tail Probe) | 2 August 1995 | 193064km (119,964miles) | 505km (314miles) | 63.8° | Study Solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere | ||
| Prognoz 12 (Interball Auroral Probe) | 29 August 1996 | 19140km (11,890miles) | 782km (486miles) | 62.8° | Study aurora | ||