Aihnss.920
net.columbia
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ihnss!karn
Sat Dec 19 16:28:26 1981
SIX Soviet Amateur Satellites Launched!
Six  (count 'em) Soviet Amateur Satellites Launched!

Six amateur radio satellites were launched from the Soviet Union on
Thursday, December 17, 1981 at about noon UTC.  Three are mode-A
communications transponders (2m up, 10m down), and the other three
are the automated "robot" qso machines.

The spacecraft are named RS-3 through RS-8.  The odd-numbered units
are the "robots", and the even-numbered units are communications
transponders. Frequencies are as follows:

Robots:
RS-3	145.820 up, 29.320 down
RS-5	145.830 up, 29.330 down
RS-7	145.840 up, 29.340 down

Communications transponders:
RS-4	145.86 - 145.90 up, 29.36 - 29.40 down, beacons at 29.36 & 29.40
RS-6	145.91 - 145.95 up, 29.41 - 29.45 down, beacon at 29.41
RS-8	145.96 - 146.00 up, 29.46 - 29.50 down, beacon at 29.46

The spacecraft are in orbits with periods ranging from 118 to 119.33
minutes, with an inclination of 82.9 degrees.  Average altitude is
1700km, and the maximum duration of a pass is 26 minutes.

Further information when it becomes available.

Phil Karn, KA9Q