Cosmos 2031

Launch data:

Decay

Mission details:

• Aug 1989: The Cosmos-2031 spacecraft continues to maneuver extensively in low Earth orbit. It is probably an advanced recon satellite of the Cosmos-1426 class, but AvWeek suggests it is the first test flight of a new recon generation. This claim seems to be based on the orbital inclination, used previously only for Cosmos-670 in 1974 (probable test flight of "4th generation" recon sat) and Kosmos-1426 in 1982 (test flight of "5th generation" recon sat); it may well be right.
• Cosmos-2031 reentered on Sep 15, 1989 after 59 days in orbit; despite its unusual inclination and orbit it was probably a variant of the standard 4th generation spy satellite rather than a new model.