Strela (satellite)

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Strela
ManufacturerNPO PM
Country of originSoviet Union
Russia
OperatorVKS / GRU
VKO
ApplicationsMilitary communications
Specifications
Power40 watts from solar panels
BatteriesNickel hydrogen
EquipmentUHF transponders
(NATO B / D band)
Data rate of up to 64 kb/s)
RegimeLow Earth
Design life5 years
Production
StatusOperational
Related spacecraft
DerivativesGonets (civil satellites)

Strela (Russian: Стрела, for Arrow) is a Russian (previously Soviet) military communications satellite constellation operating in low Earth orbit. These satellites operate as mailboxes ("store-and-forward"): they remember the received messages and then resend them after the scheduled time, or by a command from the Earth. Some sources state the satellites are capable of only three months of active operation, but in accordance with others[1] they can serve for about five years. The satellites are used for transmission of encrypted messages and images.

History[]

The first three satellites, (reentered 8 November 1964), (reentered 17 November 1964) and (reentered 17 November 1964), were launched on 18 August 1964. Five different types of Strela satellites have been launched, designated Strela-1 (1964-1965), Strela-1M (1970-1992), Strela-2 (1965-1968), Strela-2M (1970-1994), and Strela-3 (1985-2010).[2][3][4][5][6][7] Strela satellites are also used for the civilian Gonets program. The current version of Strela, Strela-3M is also known as Rodnik.[8]

In 2018 Austrian counterintelligence authorities uncovered an officer of the Bundesheer, Martin M. as a Russian spy. During the investigation, Austrian counterintelligence found a small suitcase. It had radio-communication equipment built into it so that Martin M. was able to connect to Strela-3 satellites and receive and send encrypted messages. The authorities also found a list of times when the satellite was positioned over Austria.[9]

Technology[]

The following observations were published in 2011: On 244.512 MHz a Strela-satellite generates a 0.5s long 'trigger pulse' every 60 seconds. It is mentioned, that the purpose is to activate ground based transmitters waiting to send a message. Satellites were identified by measuring the time of closest approach from Doppler curve. Received messages are then re-transmitted on the second known frequency at 261.035 MHz.[10]

Accidents and incidents[]

References[]

  1. ^ http://swfound.org/media/6575/swf_iridium_cosmos_collision_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf
  2. ^ "Satellite Catalog Number index (updated Jan 2008)". Jonathan McDowell. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  3. ^ "Strela-1 (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Strela-1M (11F625)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Strela-2 (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  6. ^ "Strela-2M (11F610)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  7. ^ "Strela-3 (17F13)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  8. ^ "Strela-3M (14F132)". Gunter Dirk Krebs. 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  9. ^ tagesschau.de. "Russische Spionage: Wie im Kalten Krieg". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Satellite Radio Frequencies - Strela". www.zarya.info. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. ^ Iannotta, Becky (11 February 2009). "U.S. Satellite Destroyed in Space Collision". Space.com. Retrieved 11 February 2009.

External links[]

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