DOCUMENT RESUME ED 258 832 SE 045 828 TITLE Soviet Space Programs: 1976-80 (with Supplementary Data through 1983). Unmanned Space Activities. Part 3. Prepared at the Request of Hon. John C. Danforth, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, United States Sena,a, Ninety-Ninth Congress, First Session. INSTITUTION Congress of the U.S., Washington, D.C. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. REPORT NO Senate-Prt-98-235 PUB DATE May 85 NOTE 390p.; For Part 2, see ED 257 672. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. PUB TYPE Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials (090)-- Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC16 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Aerospace Technology; Communications; *Satellites (Aerospace); Science History; *Space Exploration; *Space Sciences IDENTIFIERS Congress 99th; *USSR ABSTRACT This report, the third and final part of a three-part study of Soviet space programs, provides a comprehensive survey of the Soviet space science programs and the Soviet military space programs, including its long history of anti-satellite activity. Chapter 1 is an overview of the unmanhed space programs (1957-83). Chapter 2 reports on significant activities in Soviet unmanned flight programs (1981-83), including space science activities, space applications, and military missions. Chapter 3 provides detailed information on Soviet unmanned scientific programs, considering the early years, suborbital programs, earth orbital development and science, the Soviet lunar program, and other areas. Chapter 4 provides additional information on applications of space activities to the Soviet economy, examining meteorological satellites, and space manufacturing. Chapter 6 discusses Soviet military space activities, documenting their uses of space systems for military purposes. (JN) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that car. be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) I/Thisdoc.iment has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor chances 'ave been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions staid in this dOcu merit do lint necessarily represent offic4INIE pos.huti or puhcy .--, 00 cl r.; a. 99th Congremm S. PRT. 98-235 1st Session COMMITTEE PRINT Part 3 SOVIET SPACE PROGRAMS: 1976-80 (WITH SUPPLEMENTARY DATA THROUGH 1983) UNMANNED SPACE ACTIVITIES PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF Hon. JOHN C. DANFORTH, Chairman COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES SENATE Part 3 MAY 1985 Printed for the use of the Committee on ('ommorce, Science, and Transportation U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE IS I) WASHINGTON :1985 For 4ale hr the Superintendent of Documents. U S Government Printing Office Washington: DC 20402 3 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, Washington, DC, May 15, 1985. DEAR COLLEAGUE: I am pleased to transmit for your information and use a report on the Soviet unmanned space program. This is the third and final part of a comprehensive report on all aspects of the Soviet space program. This report updates the Soviet space activities of 1981 -88 and fol- lows two previous reports on Soviet launch vehicles and facilities and Soviet manned space programs. This third part, just as the first two parts of the study, should contribute significantly to the discussion of issues over which this Committee has jurisdiction. JOHN C. DANFORTH, Chairman. IIIU ERRATA SHEET All spacecraft illustrations appeii-ing in this volumeare copyrighted (including figures 33-35, 40-41, 43-45, 47-48 by 1). R. Woodsand 36- 39. 42. and 46 by G. E. Perry) andmay nog oe used elsewhere without their permission. LETTER OF SUBMITTAL U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, Washington, DC. Hon. JOHN C. DANFORTH, Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- tation, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Transmitted herewith is the third ofa three part study, entitled "Soviet Space Programs: 1976-80." Pre- pared at the request of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, the report presents a comprehensive and detailed over- view of the Soviet s ace program. This third and 1 part of the study reviews the Soviet un- manned space progrs during the period of 1957-83. Specifically, this part provides a comprehensive survey of the Soviet space sci- ence programs and the Soviet military space programs, including its long history of anti-satellite activity. Part 1 of this study contains detailed information on supporting vehicles and launch facilities, political goals and purposes, interna- tional cooperation in space, and the future outlook for Soviet space programs. Part 2 of this study reviews Soviet manned space activi- ties and supporting life sciences research. With the completion of the final part of this study, it is appropri- ate and timely to commend the Congressional Research Service for such a scholarly and thoughtful effort in each of the three parts of this study. These three volumes will serve as one of the truly au- thoritative sources for information on the Soviet space programs, and the Committee and other Members of Congress are fortunate to have this study as a reference. Sincerely, SLADE GORTON, Chairman, Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space. At) Jr" CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Washington, DC, January 29, 1985. Hon. SLADE GORTON, Chairman, Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, Com- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We are happy to transmit to you herewith the third and final part of our review of Soviet space activities for the period 1976-80. As you know, Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II, who spearheaded the preparation of earlier editions of this report and was to have been primarily responsible for this edition as well, passed away in 1981. As a result, this report has taken longer to prepare than we had planned, and we have, therefore, included a supplementary chapter which highlights significant Soviet space activities from 1981 to 1983. Information in this report is current as of December 31, 1983. This volume has been written by Marcia S. Smith, Specialist in Aerospace and Telecommunications Systems; Geoffrey E. Perry, M.B.E., head of the Kettering Group of amateur satellite observers in England; and Patricia E. Humph lett, Analyst in Aviation and Space. Ms. Smith was responsible for overall coordination of the report, mid fcr writing the sections concerning space science, as well as the Executive summary and the overview. Ms. Humph lett contributed to the chapter on space science programs. Mr. Perry was responsible for the two chapters on space applications and military space activities, and contributed to the overview section. Before his illness, Dr. Sheldon had prepared many of the tables which appear in this volume. As requested, this part of the report is being sent to you in camera ready copy to accelerate the publication process. Ms. Shir- ley Williams and Mr. Terrence Lisbeth of the Production Support Unit of the Science Policy Research Division have been responsible for preparing the copy, and Ms. Sandra Burr, Ms. Kaseem Hall, and Ms. Karina Bush have all contributed to preparation of the manuscript. Mr. John Ragsdale of CRS' Automated Information Systems Office and Mr. Lloyd Beasley of your committee's staff have been particularly helpful in this process. It should be emphasized that this report is based exclusively upon unclassified sources, including Soviet announcements and in- dependent analyses made by Western observers of the Soviet space program and reported in the United States and abroad. Special thanks are extended to Mr. David R. Woods, an engineer with IBM Federal Systems Division in Owego, NY, who has provid- ed many of the illustrations for this volume. All the illustrations are based on unclassified materials appearing in scientific journals or actual models shown at the Paris Air Show arid other technical (VII) 6 VIII displays, and various Sovietdocumentary films. Theseillustrations are copyrighted and maynot be used elsewherewithout his permis- sion. Part 1 of this review, walingwith launch vehicles andsites, po- litical goals and purposes of theSoviet program, the Sovietattitude toward international cooperationin space, Soviet organizationfor conducting its space activities,and the resource burdenof the space program onthe Soviet economy, waspublished in December 1982 by your committee.Part 2, covering the Sovietmanned space program and the spacelife sciences, was publishedin October 1984 by your committee as well.We hope that thesecomprehensive re- views of Soviet space activities,which CRS has prepared since1961, continue to be useful in yourdeliberation on priorities forthe U.S. space program. Sincerely, GILBERT GUDE, Director. .11 CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 749 CHAPTER 1.OVERVIEW OF UNMANNED SPACE PROGRAMS: 1957-83 Space science 754 Earth orbital space science 754 Exploring the Moon and planets 755 Space applications 757 Space manufacturing 758 Communications 758 Meteorology 759 Earth resources 759 Navigation 760 The KOSPAS/SARSAT search and rescue satellite system 760 Geodesy and mapping