Orlets program

Sixth generation reconnaisance satellites

• 22 October 1986 GVM Spacecraft: Orlets-2. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Zenit .
• 14 February 1987 Cosmos 1820 Spacecraft: Orlets-2. Mass: 15,000 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Zenit . Summary: Launch vehicle test. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.
• 18 July 1989 Cosmos 2031 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,500 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2 . Summary: First launch of sixth-generation reconnaisance satellite. After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited.
• 01 October 1990 Cosmos 2101 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,700 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2 . Summary: After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited.
• 09 October 1991 Cosmos 2163 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,500 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2 . Summary: After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited.
• 22 December 1992 Cosmos 2225 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,500 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2 . Summary: After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited.
• 07 September 1993 Cosmos 2262 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,500 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2 . Summary: After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited. First launch to demonstrated doubled operational life.
• 26 August 1994 Cosmos 2290 Spacecraft: Orlets-2. Mass: 13,000 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Zenit . Summary: New heavy ELINT class.

• 15 May 1997 Cosmos 2343 Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Mass: 6,500 kg. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U .

  After returning multiple film capsules, the spacecraft was deorbited. This satellite provided Russia with the photo reconnaisance capability after a break of 7 1/2 months. This launch came on the 40th anniversary of the first successful launch of the R-7 rocket, from which the Soyuz-U was derived. It was the 250th launch of the Soyuz-U from Baikonur, the 350th launch from Launch Complex 31, and the 666th launch of a Soyuz-U.