Radio-Sputnik 15 (RS 15)

Russia

Spacecraft n°:

Russian satellite n°:

Also called: RadioSkaf-15 & Radio-Rosto (Rosto is an acronyme for Russian Defense, Sports, and Technical Organization)

Launch data:

Designation23439 / 94085A
Launch date26 Dec 1994 - 03:01:16 UT
Launch site Baik, LC-175/59
Launch vehicle  Rokot-K (#1)
MissionCivil: Amateur Radio
MEO Earth orbit on:
Perigee/Apogee1885 x 2165 km
Eccentricity 1.67E-02
Inclination64.59°
Period127.45 min

All the electronics onboard the satellite was designed and built by a group of Radio Amateurs from the town of Kaluga (180 km SW of Moscow) under the leaderships of Aleksander Papkov. The work was coordinated and supervised by NILAKT POSTO (aero-cosmic laboratory), Moscow, under the direction of Valentin Yamnikov. Full control of RS 15 as well as RS 10/11 and RS 12/13 is implemented by the RS3A control station at Moscow (headed by Leonid Maksakov).

RS-15 suffered from power supply problems, as it goes off almost immediately upon entering earth eclipse, not to return until is 'sees' sunlight again.

Specifications

Prime contractor Nilakt Posto and radio amateurs / Kaluga
Platformsimilar to RS 3 to 8 satellites
Operator RS3A Control Station
Mass at launch 70 kg
Mass in orbit  
Diameter 1 m (spherical-like)
Solar array  
Stabilization none
DC power  
Design lifetime  still active

On board the satellite, there is a Mode A transponder and two CW beacons, one of which consists of a broadcast bulletin board with 2 kilobytes of storage space. A remote control system and telemetry system also exist on the satellite. RS 15 does not have not orientation or attitude stabilization systems.

Frequency Information

Mode V/A (A) Linear Transponder (Non-Inverting):
Mode H Beacon:

Transponders

Beacons 29.3525 MHz (0.4 - 1.2 W)
29.3987 MHz (0.4 - 1.2 W)
   
Uplink 145.858 - 145.898 MHz (approx. 100 W EIRP)
   
Downlink 29.354 - 29.394 MHz (up to 5 W)

Ref: #7, #14, #15, #226, #AMSAT - update: 11.10.11