Soviet Space ProgramTsiklon-290, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
US-A 31
Launched
December 12, 1987
Image: Ukrainian Space Agency
Summary
US-A 31 launched on a Soviet Space Program Tsiklon-2 from 90, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan on December 12, 1987. It was Soviet Space Program's 2,138th launch, 88th this year and humanity's 3,244th orbital launch attempt. It was the 81st Tsiklon-2 flight and the 6th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Kosmos-1900, one of 6 catalogued objects, reached a 265 × 281 km orbit inclined 65.0°. 6 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
- 81st Tsiklon-2 flight · 6th this yearSoviet Space Program's 2,138th launch88th this yearhumanity's 3,244th orbital launch attempt105th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Kosmos-1900 · NORAD 18665 · 1987-101 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 6 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- COSMOS 1900
- Object ID
- 1987-101A
- Epoch
- 1987-12-12 06:59:53 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.03019225 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0012014
- Inclination
- 64.9957°
- Ascending node
- 200.0947°
- Arg. of perigee
- 247.8886°
- Mean anomaly
- 112.1008°
- 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
6 catalogued: 1 payload, 3 debris, 2 components; 4 still in orbit
- Kosmos-1900 · NORAD 18665 · 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
63rd launch from 90, 6th this year · 844th from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
74 launches from this pad · 1,565 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
62 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanOpen in maps
Questions
When did US-A 31 launch?
US-A 31 launched on December 12, 1987. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch US-A 31?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched US-A 31?
Tsiklon-2, flown by Soviet Space Program. Tsiklon-2 spec sheet
Where did US-A 31 launch from?
90, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit did US-A 31 reach?
Kosmos-1900, one of 6 catalogued objects, reached a 265 × 281 km orbit inclined 65.0°.
How many satellites did US-A 31 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
