Soviet Space ProgramTsiklon-290, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
US-A 18
Launched
April 21, 1981
Image: Ukrainian Space Agency
Summary
US-A 18 launched on a Soviet Space Program Tsiklon-2 from 90, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan on April 21, 1981. It was Soviet Space Program's 1,484th launch, 33rd this year and humanity's 2,430th orbital launch attempt. It was the 48th Tsiklon-2 flight and the 5th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Kosmos-1266, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 254 × 274 km orbit inclined 65.0°. 5 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Tsiklon-2 · Soviet Space Program
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 48th Tsiklon-2 flight · 5th this yearSoviet Space Program's 1,484th launch33rd this yearhumanity's 2,430th orbital launch attempt39th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Kosmos-1266 · NORAD 12409 · 1981-037 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 5 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- COSMOS 1266
- Object ID
- 1981-037A
- Epoch
- 1981-04-21 05:05:16 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.06442468 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0015324
- Inclination
- 64.9577°
- Ascending node
- 300.1909°
- Arg. of perigee
- 247.4447°
- Mean anomaly
- 112.5102°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
5 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 debris, 3 components; 3 still in orbit
- Kosmos-1266 · NORAD 12409 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Active radar satellite for ocean surveillance powered by a nuclear reactor.
Pad
90, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
30th launch from 90, 5th this year · 592nd from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
74 launches from this pad · 1,565 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
31 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanOpen in maps
Questions
When did US-A 18 launch?
US-A 18 launched on April 21, 1981. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch US-A 18?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched US-A 18?
Tsiklon-2, flown by Soviet Space Program. Tsiklon-2 spec sheet
Where did US-A 18 launch from?
90, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit did US-A 18 reach?
Kosmos-1266, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 254 × 274 km orbit inclined 65.0°.
How many satellites did US-A 18 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).