Launched to orbit June 25, the Legend satellite of offshore electronic reconnaissance has failed so far to get down to performing the tasks.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Spying Satellite Fails Mission
Launched to orbit June 25, the Legend satellite of offshore electronic reconnaissance has failed so far to get down to performing the tasks. Of two solar batteries, one didn’t open and the satellite lacks power to activate devices of surveillance and target indication.
It was the U.S. Space Command that first reported problems of Russia’s US-PU satellite. Though the RF Defense Ministry, Russia’s Space Agency (Roskosmos) and Space Forces declined to comment, a source with the General Naval Staff said Saturday that Cosmos-2421 [US-PU got this name after delivery into the orbit] really has problems, which are currently tackled by experts.
The satellite spent past week in maneuvers, attempting to open the second battery. All efforts proved fruitless, the source said, but Arsenal Design Bureau that developed the satellite still hopes to remove trouble.
But the military don’t share optimism of producers, the more so that the satellite was made 15 years ago and kept in the stockpile till the launch. Besides, Arsenal has troubles not only with US-PU but also with a new Liana, which is expected to replace Legend.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 03, 2006
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