WORLD SPACECRAFT DIGEST by Jos Heyman 1972 Version: 20 August 2014 © Copyright Jos Heyman

1972 001A (05764) Name: Kosmos-471 Country: USSR Launch date: 12 January 1972 Re-entry: 25 January 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 201 x 316 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 002A (05769) Name: KH 9-2 Country: USA Launch date: 20 January 1972 Re-entry: 29 February 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 157 x 331 km, inclination: 97.0° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 056A. Also known as Ops-1737 and mission 1202.

1972 002D (05772) Name: Hitchiker-30 Country: USA Launch date: 20 January 1972 Re-entry: 17 April 1979 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 472 x 549 km, inclination: 96.6° Secondary payload as described for 1963 025B. Also known as Ops-7719.

1972 003A (05775) Name: Intelsat 4-F4 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 23 January 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur D Orbit: geostationary at 179°E Communications satellite as described for 1971 006A. The satellite was taken out of geostationary orbit on 9 May 1983.

1972 004A (05804) Name: Kosmos-472 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 January 1972 Re-entry: 18 August 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 194 x 1536 km, inclination: 82.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.52.

1972 005A (05814) Name: HEOS-2 Int. Agency: ESRO Launch date: 31 January 1972 Re-entry: 2 August 1974 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta DSV-3L Orbit: 405 x 240164 km, inclination: 89.9°

The Highly Eccentric Orbit Satellite (HEOS)-2 carried instruments for the study of interplanetary space and the magnetosphere. These were: 1. a tri-axis fluxgate magnetometer; 2. a single axis magnetometer; 3. an electrostatic analyser to measure electron and proton flux; 4. a loop antenna to measure solar VLF radiation; 5. a telescopic sensor with two solid state detectors and a scintillation counter; 6. a Geiger-Mueller counter; 7. a directional Cerenkov detector; 8. nine channeltrons; 9. an ion collector; and 10. a micrometeorite detector. The satellite had a mass of 117 kg.

1972 006A (05821) Name: Kosmos-473 Country: USSR Launch date: 3 February 1972 Re-entry: 15 February 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 205 x 314 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A.

1972 007A (05835) Name: Luna-20 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 February 1972 Re-entry: 25 February 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/D Orbit: trans-lunar Luna-20 was a type E-8-5 lunar sample return mission as described for 1969 058A. After being placed in a lunar orbit of 100 x 100 km with an inclination of 65° on 18 February 1972, the spacecraft landed on 21 February 1972 at 3°32'N, 56°33'E. After collecting 50 grams of lunar soil, the ascent vehicle, still designated as 1972 007A, took off on 23 February to return to Earth on 25 February 1972.

1972 008A (05839) Name: Kosmos-474 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 February 1972 Re-entry: 29 February 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 213 x 317 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

--- Name: Jumpseat-2 Country: USA Launch date: 16 February 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB Orbit: failed to orbit Military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1971 021A. Also known as Ops-1844, the satellite did not achieve orbit due to an upper stage failure. It has also been suggested this was a HL-10LB lifting body test flight which was intended to be suborbital.

1972 009A (05846) Name: Kosmos-475 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 February 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 970 x 1000 km, inclination: 74.1° Tsiklon military navigational satellite as described for 1967 045A.

1972 010A (05851) Name: IMEWS-3 Country: USA Launch date: 1 March 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan IIIC Orbit: geostationary at 80°W

Military early warning satellite as described for 1970 093A. In addition the satellite carried an ancillary payload of solar proton detectors. The satellite was later moved to 70°W. It was also known as Ops-1570.

1972 011A (05852) Name: Kosmos-476 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 March 1972 Re-entry: 25 October 1991 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Vostok Orbit: 617 x 633 km, inclination: 81.2° Tselina D military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1970 113A.

1972 012A (05860) Name: Pioneer-10 Country: USA Launch date: 3 March 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur D + Star-37 Orbit: solar escape, inclination: 1.31°

Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11 (1973 019A) were launched to explore the outer planets of the solar system. The former visited only Jupiter whilst the latter explored both Jupiter and Saturn. Both spacecraft also conducted intensive surveys of the moons of the two planets. The two spacecraft were identical and had a mass of 259 kg. They carried: 1. an imaging photo polarimeter to generate images of the planets; 2. an ultraviolet photometer to study ultraviolet radiation; 3. an infrared radiometer to measure the net heat energy flux of the planets and the thermal structure

and chemical composition of the atmospheres and moons; 4. a fluxgate magnetometer to study the planetary magnetic fields; 5. a helium vector magnetometer to study the interplanetary magnetic field; 6. a plasma analyser to map the density and energy of the solar wind; 7. a cosmic ray telescope to measure the proton and electron flux at certain wavelengths; 8. a Geiger-Mueller counter telescope and a trapped radiation detector to study the planetary radiation

belts; 9. a charged particle instrument to study interplanetary space and electrons and protons trapped in the

radiation belts; 10. a micrometeorite detection system consisting of 13 panels each with 18 cells pressurised with argon

and nitrogen which, if struck, determined the size of the micrometeorite; and 11. a detector to track particles from bits of dust to large asteroids, providing data on their distance,

velocity and relative size. The Pioneer studies revealed that the upper atmosphere of Jupiter consists of hydrogen. They also observed zones which are white to pale yellow and which comprise regions of rising gas, as well as reddish-brown belts which are regions of descending gas. The day and night temperatures were found to be the same. Beneath the atmosphere liquid hydrogen in molecular form was found and beneath that, liquid metallic hydrogen and an iron-silicate core with a temperature of about 30,000°C is suspected. The lower atmosphere was found to contain water droplets, ice crystals, ammonia crystals and hydrogen-sulphide. The presence of helium was confirmed. The excess heat was concluded to result from condensation of the planet from the solar nebula, followed by a slowly contracting of the planet. The magnetic field is probably generated by convection currents

in the liquid metallic hydrogen. The intense radiation belts that were found, are caused by protons and high-energy electrons that are being trapped by the magnetic field. These belts are about a million times stronger than the Van Allen belts of Earth. The Pioneer spacecraft also observed the moons of Jupiter and revealed their diversity. In particular Io was found to be surrounded by a cloud of ionised sodium. Pioneer-10 flew past Jupiter in December 1973 with the closest distance being 130,000 km on 5 December 1973. The spacecraft left the solar system in 1983 but continued to transmit data of the flow of charged particles emitted by the Sun until 7 February 2003, when ground controllers ceased transmissions. The spacecraft was at that time 12.21 billion km from Earth. Contact was lost in early 2006. Both Pioneer-10 and -11 carried a plague which displays a message consisting a diagram of our solar system and a drawing of a man and a woman.

1972 013A (05862) Name: Kosmos-477 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 March 1972 Re-entry: 16 March 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 202 x 306 km, inclination: 72.9° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A. The satellite carried an ancillary payload consisting of instruments for particle flux and excess radiation measurements. A Nauka capsule as described for 1968 022A, which was designated 1972 013E (05882), was ejected and re-entered on 23 March 1972.

1972 014A (05879) Name: TD-1A Int. Agency: ESRO Launch date: 12 March 1972 Re-entry: 9 January 1980 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta DSV-3N Orbit: 524 x 551 km, inclination: 97.6°

Following the cancellation of TD-1 on 25 April 1968, ESA developed the Thor Delta (TD)-1A satellite to undertake studies of astronomical events, solar and cosmic rays. During its life time the 472 kg satellite catalogued 15,000 stars. The instruments consisted of: 1. S2/68. a telescope/spectrometer to undetake a whole-sky scan at 1350-3000 Å; 2. S59, a telescope/spectrometer gimballed for star-tracking and UV stellar spectroscopy in 2000-

3000 Å; 3. S67, two solid-state detectors/Cerenkov detector for spectrometry of primary charged particles; 4. S77, a proportional counter for spectrometry of 2-30 keV celestial X-rays; 5. S88, an instrument to investigate s olar gamma-rays in thr 50-500 MeV range; 6. S100, a CsI scintillation crystal instrument to observe solar X-rays; and 7. S133, a spark chamber, vidicon camera, particle counters and Cerenkov counter to observe

celestial gamma-rays in the 70-300 MeV range.

1972 015A (05885) Name: Kosmos-478 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 March 1972 Re-entry: 28 March 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 204 x 295 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 016A (05888) Name: KH 8-34 Country: USA Launch date: 17 March 1972 Re-entry: 11 April 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB Orbit: 131 x 409 km, inclination: 111.0° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1966 069A. Also known as Ops-1678 and mission 4334.

1972 017A (05894) Name: Kosmos-479 Country: USSR Launch date: 22 March 1972 Re-entry: 13 April 1980 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 514 x 542 km, inclination: 74.1° Tselina O military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1967 108A.

1972 018A (05903) Name: DMSP-2 Country: USA Launch date: 24 March 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Thor Burner II Orbit: 803 x 885 km, inclination: 98.8° Military meteorological satellite as described for 1971 087A. Also known as Ops-5058.

1972 019A (05905) Name: Kosmos-480 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 March 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1175 x 1203 km, inclination: 83.0° Sfera geodetic satellite as described for 1968 011A.

1972 020A (05906) Name: Kosmos-481 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 March 1972 Re-entry: 2 September 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 269 x 514 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.46.

1972 021A (05912) Name: Venera-8 Country: USSR Launch date: 27 March 1972 Re-entry: 22 July 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 0.70 x 1.00 AU, inclination: 2.0°

Venera-8 was a type 3V Venus spacecraft as described for 1970 060A and carried a descent capsule. The capsule landed on 22 July 1972 at 10°S, 6°E, and carried out the first ever analysis of the surface. It landed on the day-side of the planet and data transmission from the surface lasted for 50 minutes. The soil density was 1.5 g/cc and the soil was found to contain elements similar to granite. The atmosphere was very dry and winds of up to 160 km/h were recorded above 40 km altitude, falling to less than 8 km/h at 10 km altitude. During the descent three distinct cloud layers were detected and the atmosphere was found to contain 97% carbon-dioxide. The payload included a photometer to measure the amount of sunlight, instruments to measure solar activity, gamma ray spectrometers and instruments to measure temperature and atmospheric pressures. The spacecraft itself burnt up in the atmosphere. The total mass of the spacecraft was 1180 kg.

1972 022A (05917) Name: Meteor 1-11 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 March 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Vostok Orbit: 868 x 891 km, inclination: 81.2° Meteorological satellite as described for 1969 029A.

1972 023A (05919) Name: Kosmos-482 Country: USSR Launch date: 31 March 1972 Re-entry: 5 May 1981 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 205 x 9805 km, inclination: 52.2° Kosmos-482 is believed to have been a failed Venera spacecraft similar to Venera-8 (1972 012A). Although the spacecraft succeeded to separate from the launch platform, an early booster cut-off prevented the correct orbit being achieved.

1972 024A (05924) Name: Kosmos-483 Country: USSR Launch date: 3 April 1972 Re-entry: 15 April 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 209 x 313 km, inclination: 72.8° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 025A (05927) Name: Molniya 1-20 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 April 1972 Re-entry: 30 January 1974 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 480 x 39260 km, inclination: 65.6° Communications satellite as described for 1965 030A.

1972 025B (05928) Name: SRET-1 Country: France Launch date: 4 April 1972 Re-entry: 26 February 1974 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz Orbit: 458 x 39250 km, inclination: 65.6°

The Satellite pour Recherche de l'Environment et Technologique (SRET)-1 tested the behaviour of thin film solar cells and measured radiation received by them. The satellite had a mass of 15 kg.

1972 026A (05933) Name: Kosmos-484 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 April 1972 Re-entry: 18 April 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 196 x 224 km, inclination: 81.3° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A. The satellite carried an ancillary payload for solar radiation and cosmic ray studies, including a proportional counter to measure charged particles. A Nauka capsule as described for 1968 022A, which was designated 1972 026C (06002), was ejected and re-entered on 18 April 1972.

1972 027A (05936) Name: Interkosmos-6 Int. Agency: Interkosmos Launch date: 7 April 1972 Re-entry: 11 April 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 203 x 248 km, inclination: 51.8°

Interkosmos-6 was a new design of spacecraft of app. 1070 kg which could be recovered. It was based on the Vostok design. The mission was referred to as Energiya and the objective was to collect and return to the Earth primary cosmic ray particles and meteor particles for the investigation of their chemical composition and for energy studies. The experiment package consisted of a large photo-emulsion recording medium and an ionisation calorimeter. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania and the USSR participated in the experiments.

1972 028A (05938) Name: Kosmos-485 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 April 1972 Re-entry: 30 August 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 271 x 479 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.58.

1972 029A (05941) Name: Prognoz-1 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 April 1972 Re-entry: April 1981 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 1005 x 199667 km, inclination: 65.0°

The Prognoz series of scientific spacecraft were placed in highly elliptical Earth orbits to study solar activity in interplanetary space, including the corpuscular radiation, gamma ray and X-ray emissions from the Sun, the fluxes of solar plasma and their interaction with the Earth's atmosphere, as well as the magnetic fields in near-Earth space. The Prognoz series was also referred to as Solnechny Obyekt (SO). Prognoz-1 carried 15 instruments including: 1. an X-ray spectrometer and proportional counter; 2. a scintillation spectrometer for gamma rays; 3. a spectrometer for the measurement of proton flux; 4. a Cerenkov counter to measure certain electrons; 5. a scintillation spectrometer for measuring protons; 6. an instrument to measure the solar wind; 7. an instrument to study radio transmissions in 1.6 to 8 KHz and 100 to 700 KHz; 8. a magnetometer; 9. orientation detectors; and 10. several dosimeters. Prognoz-1 had a mass of 845 kg.

1972 030A (05945) Name: Kosmos-486 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 April 1972 Re-entry: 27 April 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 178 x 234 km, inclination: 81.3° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 031A (06000) Name: Apollo-16 Country: USA Launch date: 16 April 1972 Re-entry: 27 April 1972 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Saturn 5 Orbit: trans-lunar

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts J. Young (Commander), T. Mattingly (CM Pilot) and C. Duke (LM Pilot) using Apollo spacecraft CSM-113 'Casper' and LM-11 'Orion' as described for 1966 059A. Their back-up crew was F. Haise, E. Mitchell and S. Roosa. The mission objectives included the exploration of the Descartes region, deployment of the ALSEP, lunar orbit experiments and photography using the instruments and cameras in the SIM bay and the deployment of a P & F sub-satellite. The mission carried a Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) as described for 1971 063A. After an initial Earth orbit of 169 x 178 km with an inclination of 32.6°, the spacecraft went into a trans-lunar trajectory after 2 hours, 39 minutes. The lunar orbit of 107 x 315 km with an inclination of 169.3°, was reached 74 hours, 28 minutes after launch. The CSM experienced control problems during the trans-lunar trajectory as well as in lunar orbit, delaying the landing and shortening the mission. After separation of 'Casper' and 'Orion', at 98 hours, 13 minutes, the landing was delayed 6 hours while engineers investigated a problem with the CSM steering. Finally, on 20 April 1972, at 104 hours, 30 minutes after launch, Young and Duke touched down 276 m from the target site in the Descartes Region at 8°59'S, 15°31'E. During the 71 hours, 14 minutes on the surface the crew conducted three EVA's of respectively 7 hours, 11 minutes (on 21 April 1972), 7 hours, 23 minutes (on 22 April 1972) and 5 hours, 40 minutes (on 23 April 1972). They travelled 27 km in the LRV, collected 96 kg of rock sample-s and various core samples and deployed the ALSEP. The experiments forming part of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) included: 1. the Passive Seismic Experiment (PSE) as described for the Apollo-11 EASEP (1969 059A); 2. the Lunar Surface Magnetometer (LSM) as described for the Apollo-12 ALSEP (1969 099A); 3. the Heat Flow Experiment (HFE) as described for the Apollo-13 ALSEP (1970 029A); and 4. the Active Seismic Experiment (ASE) as described for the Apollo-14 ALSEP (1971 008A). In addition the Solar Wind Composition Experiment (SWCE) as described for Apollo-15 (1971 063A) and the Lunar Portable Magnetometer (LPM) as described for Apollo-14 (1971 008A) were deployed. The payload carried on the SM was identical to that carried on Apollo-15 (1971 063A). At 175 hours, 32 minutes after launch, on 24 April 1972, the lift-off of 'Orion' was transmitted to Earth by the LRV camera.

The crew docked with 'Caspar' at 177 hours, 41 minutes. When 'Orion' was jettisoned, a loss of attitude control prevented it from being impacted on the Moon as planned. Due to CSM control problems noted earlier, lunar orbit terminated one day earlier at 200 hours, 22 minutes. Prior to trans-Earth injection the P & F sub-satellite (1972 031D) was launched. During return journey Mattingly conducted an 83 minutes EVA to retrieve film cassettes from SIM cameras. On 27 April 1972 the mission splashed down after 11 days, 1 hour, 51 minutes at 0°42'S, 156°13'W in the Pacific Ocean near Jarvis Island. The recovery ship was the USS Ticonderoga. The third stage, designated as 1972 031B (06001), impacted on the Moon on 19 April 1972 at 1°18'N, 23°48'W. The LM ascent stage was designated as 1972 031C (06005) and remained in a lunar orbit but may, over the years, have impacted on the Moon.

1972 031D (06009) Name: P & F Country: USA Launch date: 24 April 1972 Re-entry: 29 May 1972 Launch site: --- Launch vehicle: --- Orbit: 91 x 130 km, inclination: 169.3°

The Particle & Field (P&F) satellite was ejected into a lunar orbit by Apollo-16 (1972 031A). Its intended orbit was 102 x 147 km but, as a consequence of the difficulties encountered with the Apollo spacecraft, this orbit was not achieved. The 39 kg satellite was identical to the earlier P&F satellite (1971 063D) except for the addition of a particle detector. It studied the Moon's gravitational field and mass, the particle composition of space near the Moon and the interaction of the Moon's magnetic field with that of Earth. The satellite impacted on the Moon at 10°10'N, 111°56'E.

1972 032A (06003) Name: KH 4B-16 Country: USA Launch date: 19 April 1972 Re-entry: 12 May 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Thorad Agena D Orbit: 155 x 277 km, inclination: 81.5° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1967 087A. Also known as S71-3, Ops-5640 and mission 1116. The satellite also carried two additional experiments, the CRLS-235 Ion Glow experiment to obtain further data for orbit prediction, and the SSD-987 Night Glow experiment that measured Earth glow and correlate this with the skyglow to determine the effect on a surveillance satellite.

1972 033A (06006) Name: Kosmos-487 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 April 1972 Re-entry: 24 September 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 268 x 505 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.57.

--- Name: --- Country: USSR Launch date: 25 April 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: failed to orbit DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A which failed to orbit. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.51.

1972 034A (06016) Name: Kosmos-488 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 May 1972 Re-entry: 18 May 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 207 x 294 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4MK military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1969 109A.

1972 035A (06019) Name: Kosmos-489 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 May 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 969 x 1002 km, inclination: 74.0° Tsiklon military navigational satellite as described for 1967 045A.

1972 036A (06021) Name: Kosmos-490 Country: USSR Launch date: 17 May 1972 Re-entry: 29 May 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 205 x 285 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A. The satellite carried an ancillary payload for the measurement of high energy flux and cosmic rays. A Nauka capsule as described for 1968 022A, which was designated 1972 036D (06040), was ejected on 27 May 1972 and re-entered on 6 June 1972.

1972 037A (06031) Name: Molniya 2-2 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 May 1972 Re-entry: 22 March 1977 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 440 x 39290 km, inclination: 65.4° Communications satellite as described for 1971 100A.

--- Name: KH 8-35 Country: USA Launch date: 20 May 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB Orbit: failed to orbit Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1966 069A. The satellite, which was also known as Ops-6574 and mission 4335, failed to achieve orbit due to a failure of the upper stage. It has also been suggested that this may have been a suborbital test flight of the HL-10LB lifting body, as described for 16 February 1972.

1972 038A (06035) Name: Kosmos-491 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 May 1972 Re-entry: 8 June 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 177 x 269 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 039A (06037) Name: KH 4B-17 Country: USA Launch date: 25 May 1972 Re-entry: 4 June 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Thorad Agena D Orbit: 158 x 305 km, inclination: 96.3° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1967 087A. Also known as S71-5, mission 1117 and Ops-6371. It also carried the CL-237 Density Gauge experiment and the CRLS-228 Atmospheric Density and Composition experiment, both of which investigated the atmospheric density.

1972 040A (06049) Name: Kosmos-492 Country: USSR Launch date: 9 June 1972 Re-entry: 22 June 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 205 x 323 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 041A (06052) Name: Intelsat 4-F5 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 13 June 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur D Orbit: geostationary at 60°E Communications satellite as described for 1971 006A. The satellite was taken out of geostationary orbit on 24 February 1983.

1972 042A (06053) Name: Kosmos-493 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 June 1972 Re-entry: 3 July 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 203 x 274 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A.

1972 043A (06059) Name: Kosmos-494 Country: USSR Launch date: 23 June 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 790 x 804 km, inclination: 74.1° Strela 2 military communications satellite as described for 1965 112A.

1972 044A (06060) Name: Kosmos-495 Country: USSR Launch date: 23 June 1972 Re-entry: 6 July 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 202 x 278 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 045A (06066) Name: Kosmos-496 Country: USSR Launch date: 26 June 1972 Re-entry: 2 July 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz Orbit: 187 x 321 km, inclination: 51.6° Following the disaster with Soyuz-11 (1971 053A) it was decided that the Soyuz spacecraft would be reconfigured to carry only a crew of two who could then wear spacesuits during the flight to and from the Salyut space station. The modifications required for this, as well as the other modifications that were necessary to rectify the problems that had occurred, were test flown on Kosmos-496. The spacecraft was similar to a Soyuz spacecraft as described for 1967 037A and had solar panels.

1972 046A (06068) Name: Prognoz-2 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 June 1972 Re-entry: 15 December 1982 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 517 x 201804 km, inclination: 65.3°

Scientific satellite as described for 1972 029A. It is believed Prognoz-2 was identical to Prognoz-1 except for an additional French solar wind experiment designated as Sol International Gamma Neutron Experiment (Signe)-1, as described for Signe-3 (1977 049A).

1972 047A (06075) Name: Interkosmos-7 Int. Agency: Interkosmos Launch date: 30 June 1972 Re-entry: 5 October 1972 Launch site: Kapustin Yar Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 260 x 551 km, inclination: 48.4°

Interkosmos-7 continued the studies undertaken by Interkosmos-1 (1969 088A) and Interkosmos-4 (1970 084A). The satellite used the DS-U3-IK version of the DS platform as described for 1962 theta 1 and 1969 088A. Instruments were provided by Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic and the USSR and included a solar ultraviolet radiation detector, a solar flare X-ray detector, a solar X-ray spectrometer and several solar radiation detectors. The satellite had a mass of 375 kg. Also referred to as DS-U3-IK No.3.

1972 048A (06076) Name: Kosmos-497 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 June 1972 Re-entry: 7 November 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 271 x 788 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-I radar calibration satellite as described for 1962 αδ 1. Also referred to as DS-P1-I No.12.

1972 049A (06079) Name: Meteor 1-12 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 June 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Vostok Orbit: 889 x 905 km, inclination: 81.2° Meteorological satellite as described for 1969 029A.

1972 050A (06086) Name: Kosmos-498 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 July 1972 Re-entry: 25 November 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 267 x 490 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.56.

1972 051A (06090) Name: Kosmos-499 Country: USSR Launch date: 6 July 1972 Re-entry: 17 July 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 204 x 283 km, inclination: 51.8° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 052A (06094) Name: KH 9-3 Country: USA Launch date: 7 July 1972 Re-entry: 13 September 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 174 x 251 km, inclination: 96.9° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 056A. Also known as Ops-7293 and mission 1203.

1972 052C (06096) Name: Hitchiker-31 Country: USA Launch date: 7 July 1972 Re-entry: 6 May 1978 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 497 x 504 km, inclination: 96.2° Secondary payload as described for 1963 025B. Also known as Ops-7803.

1972 053A (06097) Name: Kosmos-500 Country: USSR Launch date: 10 July 1972 Re-entry: 29 March 1980 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 505 x 549 km, inclination: 74.1° Tselina O military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1967 108A.

1972 054A (06099) Name: Kosmos-501 Country: USSR Launch date: 12 July 1972 Re-entry: 9 May 1974 Launch site: Kapustin Yar Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 221 x 2168 km, inclination: 48.5° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.50.

1972 055A (06105) Name: Kosmos-502 Country: USSR Launch date: 13 July 1972 Re-entry: 25 July 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz M Orbit: 204 x 262 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4MT military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 118A. The satellite carried an ancillary payload for mapping, geodesy and Earth resources. A capsule, designated 1972 055E (06129), was ejected on 25 July 1972 and was used for micrometeorite studies. It re-entered on 26 July 1972.

1972 056A (06114) Name: Kosmos-503 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 July 1972 Re-entry: 1 August 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 202 x 288 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 057A (06117) Name: Kosmos-504 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1324 x 1498 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057B (06118) Name: Kosmos-505 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1354 x 1498 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057C (06119) Name: Kosmos-506 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1384 x 1498 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057D (06120) Name: Kosmos-507 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1414 x 1498 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057E (06121) Name: Kosmos-508 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1446 x 1497 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057F (06122) Name: Kosmos-509 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1475 x 1501 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057G (06123) Name: Kosmos-510 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1497 x 1512 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 057H (06124) Name: Kosmos-511 Country: USSR Launch date: 20 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1496 x 1548 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 058A (06126) Name: Landsat-1 Country: USA Launch date: 23 July 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 900 Orbit: 903 x 921 km, inclination: 99.1°

The Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS)-1 satellite, renamed Landsat-1 on 14 January 1975, was based on the Nimbus series of three axis stabilised meteorological satellites and was equipped with: 1. three Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) camera which operated in the 0.48 – 0.57 µm, 0.58 – 0.68 µm

and 0.70 – 0.83 µm band of the electromagnetic spectrum with a 80 m resolution; and 2. a Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS) which operated in the 0.5 – 0.6 µm, 0.6 – 0.7 µm, 0.7 – 0.8 µm and

0.8 – 1.1 µm bands with a 80 m resolution. It also carried two tape recorders to store data. The 816 kg satellite was built by General Electric and was shut down on 7 October 1978 by which time the two tape recorders had failed, attitude control problems had been encountered and the green band MSS sensor had failed. By then it had returned 3000,000 images.

1972 059A (06130) Name: Kosmos-512 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 July 1972 Re-entry: 9 August 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 203 x 273 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A.

--- Name: --- Country: USSR Launch date: 29 July 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K Orbit: failed to orbit Salyut space station which failed to achieve orbit as the second stage of the launch vehicle shut down early. The spacecraft, which was similar to Salyut-1 (1971 032A) and was also known as DOS-2, reached an altitude of 75 km and fell into the Pacific Ocean.

1972 060A (06135) Name: Kosmos-513 Country: USSR Launch date: 2 August 1972 Re-entry: 15 August 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 203 x 320 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 061A (06142) Name: Explorer-46 Country: USA Launch date: 13 August 1972 Re-entry: 2 November 1979 Launch site: Wallops Island Launch vehicle: Scout D-1 Orbit: 492 x 811 km, inclination: 37.7°

The Meteoroid Technology Satellite (MTS)-1, or Explorer-46, provided data on micrometeorite penetration rates in a bumper protected target and on micrometeorite speeds and quantity. Over 28 m² of bumper target was provided with pressurised cell detectors to record penetration of the bumper area and the main wall. The target was a stainless steel wall onto which 96 detectors and twelve box shaped micrometeorite velocity detectors were attached. One bumper wing failed to deploy fully and to get maximum data, secondary experiments were not undertaken. The satellite had a mass of 136 kg.

1972 062A (06148) Name: Kosmos-514 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 August 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 958 x 975 km, inclination: 83.0° Tsiklon military navigational satellite as described for 1967 045A.

1972 063A (06150) Name: Kosmos-515 Country: USSR Launch date: 18 August 1972 Re-entry: 31 August 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 189 x 325 km, inclination: 72.9° Zenit 4MK military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1969 109A.

1972 064A (06152) Name: Denpa Country: Japan Launch date: 19 August 1972 Re-entry: 19 May 1980 Launch site: Kagoshima Launch vehicle: Mu 4S Orbit: 245 x 6291 km, inclination: 31.0°

Also known as the Radiation Exploration Satellite (REXS), Denpa conducted studies of the plasma waves and their density, the flow of electrons and the magnetic field in the vicinity of the Earth. It also conducted radio propagation experiments. The instruments included: 1. a plasma wave detector; 2. a plasma density detector; 3. an electron density detector; and 4. an electron temperature detector. Electrical problems caused the satellite, which had a mass of 75 kg, to fail after four days in orbit.

1972 065A (06153) Name: OAO-3 Country: USA Launch date: 21 August 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur D Orbit: 736 x 744 km, inclination: 35.0°

The 2204 kg Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO)-3 satellite, also known as the Copernicus Observatory, studied the absorption of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, silicon and other common elements in the interstellar gas and investigated ultraviolet radiation emitted by young hot stars. The equipment included a 2.5 m long ultraviolet telescope as well as three smaller telescopes. The data obtained provided substantial information on the rarefied material between stars. In particular it was discovered that much of the interstellar hydrogen exists in molecular, rather than atomic form and that there are regions in interstellar space which contain very hot gas. The investigations also led to the discovery of a black hole in Cygnus X-1. The satellite transmitted valuable date for a period of eight years.

1972 066A (06154) Name: Kosmos-516 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 August 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 2 Orbit: 251 x 263 km, inclination: 65.0° US-A military ocean surveillance satellite fitted with radar equipment as described for 1967 127A. The satellite was boosted into an orbit of 920 x 1030 km with an inclination of 64.8° on 21 September 1972. It was probably the first satellite in the series with a complete radar system.

1972 067A (06168) Name: Kosmos-517 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 August 1972 Re-entry: 11 September 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 204 x 288 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A.

1972 068A (06172) Name: KH 8-36 Country: USA Launch date: 1 September 1972 Re-entry: 30 September 1972 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB Orbit: 140 x 380 km, inclination: 110.5° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1966 069A. Also known as Ops-8888 and mission 4336.

1972 069A (06173) Name: TIP-1 Country: USA Launch date: 2 September 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Scout B-1 Orbit: 716 x 863 km, inclination: 90.1°

The Transit Improvement Program (TIP)-1 satellite, which was also known as Triad and had a mass of 94 kg, tested new concepts for the proposed US Navy navigational system. The payload included the Disturbance Composition System (Discos) for position finding and maintaining position in orbit by correcting disturbances caused by solar wind and atmospheric resistance. The satellite also carried radioisotope thermal generators.

--- Name: --- Country: USSR Launch date: 2 September 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: failed to orbit Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A which failed to orbit.

1972 070A (06186) Name: Kosmos-518 Country: USSR Launch date: 15 September 1972 Re-entry: 24 September 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 204 x 307 km, inclination: 72.8° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A. A Nauka capsule as described for 1968 022A, which was designated 1972 070C (06198), was ejected on 23 September 1972 and re-entered on 27 September 1972.

1972 071A (06188) Name: Kosmos-519 Country: USSR Launch date: 16 September 1972 Re-entry: 26 September 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 207 x 360 km, inclination: 71.3° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 072A (06192) Name: Kosmos-520 Country: USSR Launch date: 19 September 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 750 x 39470 km, inclination: 62.9°

Kosmos-520 was the first satellite in the Oko series of military early warning satellites for the USSR operating in in highly eccentric orbits not unlike the Molniya communications satellites. The satellites can be classified into two separate types. The first type was fitted with a box shaped telescope hood whilst the second type had an elliptical telescope hood. This latter type, also referred to as 81G6, was built by Lavochkin and was introduced in 1988. It had a mass of app. 3000 kg and was fitted with a Cassegrain optical telescope and a single lead sulphide linear charged coupled device array. The satellites were also known as Upravlyaemyi Sputnik – Kontinentalniy Statsionarnyi (US-KS) Or article 73D6 and the operational constellation consisted of nine satellites with an orbital spacing of 40°. This system was not completed until 1988 as several satellites ceased operations shortly after launch, were in incorrect orbits or drifted out of orbit.

1972 073A (06197) Name: Explorer-47 Country: USA Launch date: 23 September 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 1604 Orbit: 201100 x 235600 km, inclination: 17.2°

Explorer-47 or Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP)-H, a satellite in the IMP series as described for 1963 046A, continued the studies of interplanetary radiation and the solar wind as well as energetic particle emissions and the magnetic field of the Earth environment from an orbit reaching halfway to the Moon. It carried: 1. a Magnetic Fields Experiment; 2. a Solar Plasma Faraday Cup; 3. the Ions and Electrons in the Energy experiment in 0.1 to 2 MeV; 4. the Measurement of Low-Energy Protons and Electrons experiment; 5. an instrument to study Energetic Electrons and Protons; 6. the Electrons and Hydrogen and Helium Isotopes instruments; 7. the Solar Flare High-z/Low-e and Low-e Isotope instrument; 8. a Charged Particle Measurements Experiment; 9. a Solar and Cosmic-Ray Particles experiment; 10. the Solar Plasma Electrostatic Analyzer; 11. a Plasma Wave experiment; 12. a Solar Wind Ion Composition experiment; and 13. a Study of Cosmic-Ray, Solar, and Magnetospheric Electrons experiment. The satellite had a mass of 376 kg.

1972 074A (06206) Name: Kosmos-521 Country: USSR Launch date: 29 September 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 965 x 1022 km, inclination: 65.9° DS-P1-M target satellite for anti-satellite technology tests as described for 1967 104A. The satellite had a malfunction and the associated interceptor was never launched. Also referred to as DS-P1-M No.4.

1972 075A (06208) Name: Molniya 2-3 Country: USSR Launch date: 30 September 1972 Re-entry: 12 January 1978 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 392 x 39240 km, inclination: 65.6° Communications satellite as described for 1971 100A.

1972 076A (06212) Name: Radcat-2 Country: USA Launch date: 2 October 1972 Re-entry: 2 August 2012 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas Burner II Orbit: 731 x 749 km, inclination: 98.4° Passive optical and radar calibration target with a mass of 208 kg. Also known as P72-1, Ops-8180A and RTD-802.

1972 076B (06217) Name: Radsat Country: USA Launch date: 2 October 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Atlas Burner II Orbit: 732 x 753 km, inclination: 98.5° Also known as P72-1 and Ops-8180B, the satellite had a mass of 726 kg and carried three sensors to measure the effects of ions on the Earth's nightside atmosphere: 1. ARPA-501 Gamma Spectrometer to obtain X-ray background data; 2. NRL-114 Extreme UV Radiation to measure background radiation in the extreme UV range; and 3. SSD-988 Low Altitude Particles experiment to measure charged particles in the lower ionosphere. It also tested a series of coatings and sample materials for thermal control purposes as part of the ML-101 Stability of Thermal Materials experiments.

1972 077A (06219) Name: Kosmos-522 Country: USSR Launch date: 4 October 1972 Re-entry: 17 October 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 206 x 316 km, inclination: 72.8° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 078A (06222) Name: Kosmos-523 Country: USSR Launch date: 5 October 1972 Re-entry: 7 March 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 272 x 481 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.63.

1972 079A (06227) Name: KH 9-4 Country: USA Launch date: 10 October 1972 Re-entry: 8 January 1973 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 160 x 281 km, inclination: 96.5° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 056A. Also known as Ops-8314 and mission 1204, the satellite ejected Hitchiker-32 (1972 079C) on 16 October 1972.

1972 079C (06822) Name: Hitchiker-32 Country: USA Launch date: 16 October 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIID Orbit: 1423 x 1469 km, inclination: 95.6° Secondary payload as described for 1963 025B. The satellite was ejected from KH 9-4 (1972 079A). It was a satellite in the Program 989 sub-series.

1972 080A (06229) Name: Kosmos-524 Country: USSR Launch date: 11 October 1972 Re-entry: 25 March 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 267 x 512 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.49.

1972 081A (06231) Name: Molniya 1-21 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 October 1972 Re-entry: 1 November 1977 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 480 x 39300 km, inclination: 65.3° Communications satellite as described for 1965 030A. The satellite also carried an electron spectrometer to study the Van Allen belt.

1972 082A (06235) Name: NOAA-2 Country: USA Launch date: 15 October 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 300 Orbit: 1451 x 1458 km, inclination: 101.8° The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-2 satellite was based on NOAA-1 (1970 106A) and also known as Improved Tiros Operational System (ITOS)-F. It was the first meteorological satellite that did not carry any cameras on board but operated entirely with scanning radiometers. The instruments of the 344 kg satellite were: 1. two scanning radiometers operating in the visible and the infrared bands; 2. a Solar Proton Monitor (SPM); 3. a Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometer (VTPR) for atmospheric temperature sounding; and 4. a Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) for detailed imaging of the sea surface and cloud top

temperature measurements.

1972 082B (06236) Name: Oscar-6 Country: USA Launch date: 15 October 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 300 Orbit: 1450 x 1459 km, inclination: 101.8°

The 16 kg Oscar-6, also known as AO-6, radio amateur satellite was the first Phase 2 'long-life' Oscar satellite with a 145 MHz uplink and a 29.5 MHz down link. It enabled thousands of long distance contacts to be made and the telemetry and beacons were extensively used to demonstrate space science in the classrooms. The satellite developed a fault and every time it moved in or out of an eclipse, the change in solar cell voltage induced a false switching of the transponder system. To overcome this a chain of amateur telecommand stations was established in Australia, Canada, Morocco, the United Kingdom and the USA to maintain the satellite in the correct mode. By this means battery power was conserved and the operational life of the satellite was extended from one year to four and a half years. The satellite ceased operations on 21 June 1977.

--- Name: --- Country: USSR Launch date: 17 October 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: failed to orbit Strela 2 military communications satellite as described for 1965 112A which failed to orbit.

1972 083A (06248) Name: Kosmos-525 Country: USSR Launch date: 18 October 1972 Re-entry: 29 October 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 207 x 269 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A. A Nauka capsule as described for 1968 022A, which was designated 1972 083C (06258), was ejected on 26 October 1972 and re-entered on 1 November 1972.

1972 084A (06254) Name: Kosmos-526 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 October 1972 Re-entry: 8 April 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 273 x 486 km, inclination: 71.0° DS-P1-Yu radar calibration satellite as described for 1964 042A. Also referred to as DS-P1-Yu No.61.

1972 085A (06256) Name: Meteor 1-13 Country: USSR Launch date: 26 October 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Vostok Orbit: 867 x 891 km, inclination: 81.3° Meteorological satellite as described for 1969 029A.

1972 086A (06260) Name: Kosmos-527 Country: USSR Launch date: 31 October 1972 Re-entry: 13 November 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 207 x 306 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4MK military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1969 109A.

1972 087A (06262) Name: Kosmos-528 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1368 x 1470 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087B (06264) Name: Kosmos-529 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1404 x 1470 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087C (06265) Name: Kosmos-530 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1336 x 1469 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087D (06266) Name: Kosmos-531 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1423 x 1471 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087E (06267) Name: Kosmos-532 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1302 x 1470 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087F (06268) Name: Kosmos-533 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1319 x 1470 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087G (06269) Name: Kosmos-534 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1351 x 1470 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 087H (06270) Name: Kosmos-535 Country: USSR Launch date: 1 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1385 x 1471 km, inclination: 74.0° Strela 1M military communications satellite as described for 1970 036A .

1972 088A (06272) Name: Kosmos-536 Country: USSR Launch date: 3 November 1972 Re-entry: 20 July 1980 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 518 x 544 km, inclination: 74.0° Tselina O military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1967 108A.

1972 089A (06275) Name: DMSP-3 Country: USA Launch date: 9 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Thor Burner II Orbit: 813 x 872 km, inclination: 98.7°

Military meteorological satellite as described for 1971 087A. The satellite had a mass of 195 kg. DMSP-3 was also known as Ops-7323.

1972 090A (06278) Name: Anik A-1 Country: Canada Launch date: 10 November 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 1914 Orbit: geostationary at 104°W

The three Anik A series satellites were owned by Telesat Canada and built by Hughes as type HS-333. Each satellite carried twelve transponders which operated in the C band. The mass of the Anik A series satellites was 295 kg.

1972 091A (06282) Name: Explorer-48 Country: USA Launch date: 15 November 1972 Re-entry: 20 August 1976 Launch site: San Marco Launch vehicle: Scout D-1 Orbit: 444 x 632 km, inclination: 1.9°

The Small Astronomical Satellite (SAS)-2, or Explorer-48, which had a mass of 185 kg, studied celestial gamma ray sources. It carried a gamma ray spark chamber and provided evidence that cosmic rays which bombard the Earth, originate in the galaxy and are associated with such major galactic features as supernovae. The re-entry date quoted by NASA is 20 August 1980.

1972 092A (06285) Name: ESRO-4 Int. Agency: ESRO Launch date: 22 November 1972 Re-entry: 15 April 1974 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Scout D-1 Orbit: 245 x 1173 km, inclination: 91.1°

The European Space Research Organisation (ESRO)-4 satellite undertook studies of the ionosphere, the magnetosphere and auroral phenomena. The instruments were: 1. three boom-mounted spherical probes to measure the density and temperature and composition of

positive ions; 2. a monopole mass-spectrometer with radio-frequency analysing field to measure the density and

composition of neutral particles; 3. a series of electrostatic analysers followed by channel multipliers, Geiger-Mueller counters and solid

state detectors to measure pitch angle and energy spectra of electrons and protons; 4. two solid state detector telescopes for measuring solar protons and alpha particles over the polar

regions; and 5. a solid state detector telescope and solid state detector stack plus scintillator to measure solar protons

and alpha particles over the polar regions. The satellite had a mass of 114 kg.

--- Name: --- Country: USSR Launch date: 23 November 1972 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: N-1 Orbit: failed to orbit A Nosital (N)-1 launch vehicle which failed to orbit. The flight, also designated as 7L, may have carried a Soyuz LOK as referred to for 1968 013A, and may have been a high speed re-entry test. Alternatively it may have carried an OS-1 space station designed by OKB-1. After 147 seconds and at an altitude of 40 km, the launch vehicle exploded after excessive vibrations of the first two stages. This was the last launch attempt of the N-1 launch vehicle with flights scheduled for August 1974 and the end of 1974 having been cancelled.

1972 093A (06287) Name: Kosmos-537 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 November 1972 Re-entry: 7 December 1972 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 204 x 305 km, inclination: 65.0° Zenit 2M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 022A.

1972 094A (06291) Name: Interkosmos-8 Int. Agency: Interkosmos Launch date: 30 November 1972 Re-entry: 2 March 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 2I Orbit: 204 x 649 km, inclination: 71.0°

Interkosmos-8 continued the studies undertaken by Interkosmos-2 (1969 110A). The satellite used the DS-U1-IK version of the DS platform as described for 1962 θ 1. The instruments, which had been supplied by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic and the USSR, included: 1. an ion trap; 2. a Langmuir probe; 3. a high frequency probe; 4. a Myak transmitter; and 5. a gas discharge counter. The satellite had a mass of 340 kg. Also referred to as DS-U1-IK No.2.

1972 095A (06294) Name: Molniya 1-22 Country: USSR Launch date: 2 December 1972 Re-entry: 11 February 1976 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 555 x 39797 km, inclination: 65.0° Communications satellite as described for 1965 030A.

1972 096A (06300) Name: Apollo-17 Country: USA Launch date: 7 December 1972 Re-entry: 19 December 1972 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Saturn 5 Orbit: trans-lunar

LM Lift off from the Moon

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts E. Cernan (Commander), R. Evans (CM Pilot) and H. Schmitt (LM Pilot) using Apollo spacecraft CSM-114 'America' and LM-12 'Challenger' as described for 1966 059A. The back-up crew was initially D. Scott, A. Worden and J. Irwin but they were replaced by J. Young, S. Roosa and C. Duke after the crew became involved in a controversy over the carriage of unauthorised postal covers on the Apollo-15 (1971 063A) mission. In addition, Schmitt, a member of the logical prime crew for Apollo-18 (which was cancelled), replaced J. Engle on this mission when the cancellation of Apollo-18 and -19 left Apollo-17 as the last opportunity for an scientist/astronaut to visit the Moon. The mission objectives included the exploration of the Taurus-Littrow region, the deployment of the ALSEP and lunar orbit experiments and photography using the SIM bay instruments and cameras. The spacecraft also carried a Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) as described for 1971 063A. The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP) consisted of: 1. the Heat Flow Experiment (HFE) as described for the Apollo-13 ALSEP (1970 029A); 2. the Lunar Ejecta and Meteorites Experiment (LEAM) which measured the physical parameters of

primary cosmic dust particles which impacted on the sensors in lunar space and of the lunar ejecta from impacts on the Moon's surface;

3. the Lunar Seismic Profiling (LSP) experiment to determine the physical properties of materials near the lunar surface and to monitor seismic waves from moonquakes and impacts;

4. the Lunar Atmosphere Composition Experiment (LACE) to investigate and monitor changes in the lunar ambient atmosphere; and

5. the Lunar Surface Gravimeter (LSG), which measured gravity accelerations. Other experiments were: 1. the traverse gravimeter to measure lunar gravity; 2. the soil mechanism experiment to determine the physical properties of the surface; and 3. the Lunar Neutron Probe experiment to gather data on neutron capture rates and energy in the

regolith. The instruments in the SIM payload bay were: 1. the lunar sensor to investigate the lunar sub-surface to a depth of 1.3 km;

2. an infrared scanning radiometer to provide a lunar temperature map; 3. a far ultraviolet spectrometer to measure some constituents of the lunar atmosphere as well as solar

and galactic ultraviolet radiation; and 4. a gamma ray spectrometer. After an initial Earth orbit of 169 x 178 km with an inclination of 32.6°, the spacecraft went into a trans-lunar trajectory after 3 hours, 19 minutes. Lunar orbit of 94 x 317 km with an inclination of 159.8° was reached 86 hours, 14 minutes after launch, whilst the LM separated from the CSM at 107 hours, 48 minutes. Cernan and Schmitt landed 'Challenger' close to the target site at 20°10'N, 30°45'E on 11 December 1972, 110 hours, 23 minutes after launch. During 74 hours, 59 minutes on the lunar surface the crew conducted three EVA's of respectively 7 hours, 12 minutes (on 11 December 1972), 7 hours, 37 minutes (on 12 December 1972) and 7 hours, 15 minutes (on 13 December 1972). They travelled 34 km in the LRV and collected 110 kg of geological samples as well as deployed the ALSEP. They left the Moon on 14 December 1972 at 185 hours, 22 minutes after launch and docked with the CSM at 187 hours, 37 minutes. Trans-Earth trajectory was achieved at 234 hours, 2 minutes after launch. During the return journey Evans conducted a 67 minutes EVA on 17 December 1972, to retrieve the data canisters and film cassettes from the SIM bay. After a flight of 12 days, 13 hours, 52 minutes, the mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 17°34'S, 166°W, 800 km north of Samoa. The third stage of the launch vehicle, designated 1972 096B (06301), impacted on the Moon on 10 December 1972 at 4°12'S, 12°18'W whilst the LM ascent stage, designated as 1972 096C (06307), impacted on the Moon on 15 December 1972 at 19°5'N, 30°30'E.

1972 097A (06305) Name: Nimbus-5 Country: USA Launch date: 11 December 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 900 Orbit: 1089 x 1102 km, inclination: 100.0°

Nimbus-5, which had a mass of 772 kg, carried the SCR and THIR experiments carried on the Nimbus-4 (1970 025A) as well as the following new experiments: 1. Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) which mapped the liquid water content of

clouds, distribution and variation of sea ice cover and gross characteristics of land surfaces; 2. Infrared Temperature Profile Radiometer (ITPR) which tested sounding techniques using

simultaneous medium resolution measurements; 3. Nimbus-E Microwave Spectrometer (NEMS) to demonstrate the capabilities of microwave sensors

for measuring the tropospheric temperature profiles, water vapor abundance and water content of clouds; and

4. Surface Composition Mapping Radiometer (SCMR) to measure differences in thermal emission characteristics of the Earth's surface.

1972 098A (06308) Name: Molniya 2-4 Country: USSR Launch date: 12 December 1972 Re-entry: 22 January 1975 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M Orbit: 495 x 39300 km, inclination: 65.3° Communications satellite as described for 1971 063A.

1972 099A (06311) Name: Kosmos-538 Country: USSR Launch date: 14 December 1972 Re-entry: 27 December 1972 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Voskhod Orbit: 205 x 283 km, inclination: 65.4° Zenit 4M military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1968 096A.

1972 100A (06315) Name: Aeros-1 Country: German Fed. Rep. Launch date: 16 December 1972 Re-entry: 22 August 1973 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Scout D-1 Orbit: 223 x 867 km, inclination: 96.9°

The German Research Satellite (GRS)-2, or Aeros-1, was launched for the study of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere. The instruments carried were: 1. a mass spectrometer to measure the upper atmospheric composition and particle density; 2. a retarding potential analyser to measure ion and electron energy distribution; 3. a boom-mounted impedance probe to measure atmospheric electron concentrations; 4. an extreme ultraviolet spectrometer to observe the solar disc; and 5. a neutral atmosphere temperature instrument. The satellite had a mass of 127 kg.

1972 101A (06317) Name: Canyon-5 Country: USA Launch date: 20 December 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas Agena D Orbit: 31012 x 40728 km, inclination: 9.7° Military signal intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1968 063A. Also known Ops-9390 as well as the USSR designation RER-1-3. Some references have suggested the satellite was in a geostationary orbit at 115°E. For many years the satellite was thought to be the fifth Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) satellite, described as a cancelled project..

1972 102A (06319) Name: Kosmos-539 Country: USSR Launch date: 21 December 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 1343 x 1383 km, inclination: 74.0° Sfera geodetic satellite as described for 1968 011A.

1972 103A (06321) Name: KH 8-37 Country: USA Launch date: 21 December 1972 Re-entry: 23 January 1973 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan IIIB Orbit: 139 x 378 km, inclination: 110.5° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1966 069A. Also known as Ops-3978 and mission 4337.

1972 104A (06323) Name: Kosmos-540 Country: USSR Launch date: 25 December 1972 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M Orbit: 781 x 810 km, inclination: 74.1° Strela 2 military communications satellite as described for 1965 112A.

1972 105A (06326) Name: Kosmos-541 Country: USSR Launch date: 27 December 1972 Re-entry: 8 January 1973 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz M Orbit: 221 x 346 km, inclination: 81.3° Zenit 4MT military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1971 118A. The satellite carried ancillary payloads for mapping, geodesy and Earth resources. A capsule, designated 1972 105F (06342), was ejected on 8 January 1973 and re-entered on 15 January 1973. It carried a micrometeorite experiment.

1972 106A (06328) Name: Kosmos-542 Country: USSR Launch date: 28 December 1972 Re-entry: 9 October 1983 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Vostok Orbit: 527 x 641 km, inclination: 81.2° Tselina D military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1970 113A.