Zeya
Jump to: Mission Objectives, Mission Instrumentation, Mission Parameters, Additional Information
Mission Photos:
Courtesy of Sven
Grahn
Mission Objectives:
The Zeya (also spelled Zeia) satellite was a Russian Military Communications satellite launched on 04 March 4 1997. Zeya was named after the Zeya River, which is very close to it's launch site, Cosmodrome Svobodniy. This was the first satellite launched from this new Russian launch site in far eastern Russia.
The satellite was designed for refining technology of the launch of small satellites and for testing of user's radio equipment in the interest of precise geodesy and navigation definitions. Laser corner reflectors are designed for precise measurement of satellite's orbit and also for calibration of navigation radio equipment aboard the satellite.
After launch the satellite was spinning around with angular velocity about thirty revolutions per minute. Planned duration of the main experiment: six months since launch moment.
Mission Instrumentation:
Zeya has the following instrumentation onboard:
- Radio equipment
- GPS receiver
- GLONASS receiver
- Laser retroreflector array
Mission Parameters:
| Sponsor: | Russia |
| Expected Life: | 6 months, no longer supported |
| Primary Applications: | military communications |
| Primary SLR Applications: | precision orbit determination |
| COSPAR ID: | 9701001 |
| SIC Code: | 8888 |
| Satellite Catalog (NORAD) Number: | 24744 |
| Launch Date: | March 4, 1997 |
| Decay Date | October 25, 1999 |
| RRA Diameter: | 28 cm |
| RRA Shape: | box array |
| Reflectors: | 20 corner cubes |
| Orbit: | circular, sun-synchronous |
| Inclination: | 97.27 |
| Eccentricity: | 0.000 |
| Perigee: | 471 km |
| Period: | 94 minutes |
| Weight: | 87 kg |
Additional Information:
Publications:
- Burmistrov, V.B., Pliev, L.F., Shargorodsky, V.D. and Vasiliev, V.P., "Retroreflector Array on Board of the Zeya Satellite: Design Features and Observation Results", Proc. of the 11th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Deggendorf, Germany, September 21-25, p. 320, 1998.
