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Pion
The Pion satellites were small satellites to calibrate ground tracking systems and to measure the atmospheric density.
These satellites were 70 cm spheres with a weight of about 50 kg. They carried a battery powered transmitter. The orbital lifetime was about two months. Six satellites were launched in pairs as piggy-back payloads on three Resurs-F missions.
| Nation: | USSR |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Atmosphere density, calibration |
| Operator: | |
| Contractors: | SKB-1 (Nauka) SGAU |
| Equipment: | Transmitter |
| Configuration: | Sphere |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | Batteries |
| Lifetime: | 2 months |
| Mass: | ~50 kg |
| Orbit: | 256 km × 269 km, 62.81° (#1); 257 km × 268 km, 82.29° (#2); 254 km × 271 km, 82.56° (#3); 254 km × 271 km, 82.56° (#4); 223 km × 233 km, 82.56° (#5); 221 km × 232 km, 82.57° (#6) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pion 1 | 1989-038C | 25.05.1989 | Pl LC-43/3 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 1, Pion 2 | |
| Pion 2 | 1989-038D | 25.05.1989 | Pl LC-43/3 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 1, Pion 1 | |
| Pion 3 | 1989-055C | 18.07.1989 | Pl LC-16/2 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 3, Pion 4 | |
| Pion 4 | 1989-055D | 18.07.1989 | Pl LC-16/2 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 3, Pion 3 | |
| Pion 5 (Pion-Germes 1) | 1992-056C | 19.08.1992 | Pl LC-16/2 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 16, Pion 6 | |
| Pion 6 (Pion-Germes 2) | 1992-056D | 19.08.1992 | Pl LC-16/2 | Soyuz-U | with Resurs-F 16, Pion 5 |
Launch Sites:
- Pl = Plesetsk (NIIP-53, GIK-1, GNIIP), USSR / Russia
