Potok (Geizer, 11F663)

Potok military relay satellites - code named Geizer - handle communications between ground stations and digital data from the Yantar-4KS1 and Yantar-4KS1M electro-optical reconnaissance satellite. Potok was the first communications spacecraft built by the Lavochkin design bureau. The Slav-2 and Sintez transponders aboard Potok were developed by NPO Elas. They utilize a hexagonal phased-array antenna. From Geizer spacecraft positioned at 80 degrees E and 13.5 degrees W, the Potok system was designed for digital data transmissions in C-band. Mobile and stationary transmitter/receiver stations were used with antenna diameters of 2.6-3 m as well as compact phased-array antennas.