Russia

Russian scientific/research and
environmental-observing satellites


Below are checklists of Russian scientific/research and environmental-observing satellites, launch dates, and images of the satellites. This is a work in progress, and completeness is our goal. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.


Satellite series covered on this page:


(Selected) Kosmos-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Kosmos-1 / Sputnik-111962-03-16KosmosKosmos
Kosmos-2 / Sputnik-121962-04-06Kosmos-2+3
Kosmos-3 / Sputnik-131962-04-24Kosmos-2+3
Kosmos-4 / Sputnik-141962-04-26
Kosmos-5 / Sputnik-151962-05-28
Kosmos-6 / Sputnik-161962-06-30
Kosmos-7 / Sputnik-171962-07-28
Kosmos-8 / Sputnik-181962-08-18
Kosmos-91962-09-27
Kosmos-101962-10-17
Kosmos-111962-10-20
Kosmos-121962-12-22
Kosmos-131963-03-21
Kosmos-14 (weather)1963-04-13
Kosmos-151963-04-22
Kosmos-161963-04-28
Kosmos-171963-05-22
Kosmos-181963-05-24
Kosmos-191963-08-06
Kosmos-201963-10-18
Kosmos-21 (Venera)1963-11-11
Kosmos-221963-11-16
Kosmos-23 (weather)1963-12-13
Kosmos-241963-12-19
Kosmos-251964-02-27
Kosmos-261964-03-18
Kosmos-27 (Venera)1964-03-27
Kosmos-281964-04-04
Kosmos-291964-04-25
Kosmos-301964-05-18
Kosmos-311964-06-06
Kosmos-321964-06-10
Kosmos-331964-06-23
Kosmos-341964-07-01
Kosmos-351964-07-15
Kosmos-361964-07-30
Kosmos-371964-08-14
Kosmos-381964-08-18
Kosmos-39
Kosmos-40
Kosmos-411964-08-22
Kosmos-42
Kosmos-43
Kosmos-44 (pre-Meteor)1964-08-28
Kosmos-45 (weather)1964-09-13
Kosmos-461964-09-24
Kosmos-471964-10-06
Kosmos-481964-10-14
Kosmos-491964-10-24
Kosmos-501964-10-28
Kosmos-511964-12-10
Kosmos-521965-01-11
Kosmos-531965-01-30
Kosmos-541965-02-21
Kosmos-55
Kosmos-56
Kosmos-571965-02-22Kosmos-57
Kosmos-57
Kosmos-57
Kosmos-58 (pre-Meteor)1965-02-25Kosmos-58
Kosmos-581
Kosmos-591965-03-07Kosmos-591
Kosmos-591
Kosmos-59
Kosmos-60 (lunar attempt)1965-03-12Kosmos-60
Kosmos-60
Kosmos-60
Kosmos-611965-03-15Kosmos-61/62/63
Kosmos-61/62/63
Kosmos-61/62/63
Kosmos-62
Kosmos-63
Kosmos-641965-03-25Kosmos-64
Kosmos-64
Kosmos-64
Kosmos-65 (weather)1965-04-17
Kosmos-661965-05-07Kosmos-661
Kosmos-671965-05-25Kosmos-67
Kosmos-67
Kosmos-681965-06-15Kosmos-68
Kosmos-68
Kosmos-681
Kosmos-691965-06-25Kosmos-691
Kosmos-691
Kosmos-691
Kosmos-701965-07-02Kosmos-70
Kosmos-70
Kosmos-711965-07-16Kosmos-71/72/73/74/75
Kosmos-71/72/73/74/75
Kosmos-72
Kosmos-73
Kosmos-74
Kosmos-75
Kosmos-761965-07-23Kosmos-761
Kosmos-76
Kosmos-771965-08-03Kosmos-771
Kosmos-781965-08-14
Kosmos-791965-08-25
Kosmos-801965-09-03Kosmos-80/81/82/83/841
Kosmos-81
Kosmos-82
Kosmos-83
Kosmos-84
Kosmos-851965-09-09Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-851
Kosmos-85
Kosmos-861965-09-18Kosmos-86/87/88/89/901
Kosmos-86/87/88/89/901
Kosmos-87
Kosmos-88
Kosmos-89
Kosmos-90
Kosmos-911965-09-23Kosmos-911
Kosmos-91
Kosmos-92 (weather)1965-10-16Kosmos-92
Kosmos-931965-10-19Kosmos-931
Kosmos-931
Kosmos-93
Kosmos-941965-10-28Kosmos-941
Kosmos-941
Kosmos-951965-11-04Kosmos-951
Kosmos-951
Kosmos-951
Kosmos-96 (Venera)1965-11-23
Kosmos-971965-11-26Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97+137
Kosmos-971
Kosmos-971
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97/145
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97
Kosmos-97+others
Kosmos-981965-11-27
Kosmos-991965-12-10Kosmos-991
Kosmos-991
Kosmos-100 (pre-Meteor)1965-12-17Kosmos-1001
Kosmos-100
Kosmos-1001
Kosmos-100
Kosmos-100
Kosmos-100
Kosmos-100
Kosmos-1011965-12-21Kosmos-1011
Kosmos-1011
Kosmos-1011
Kosmos-1021965-12-27Kosmos-1021
Kosmos-1081966-02-11Kosmos-108/196
Kosmos-108/196
Kosmos-1+108/196+IK-1+10
Kosmos-1101966-02-22Kosmos-1101
Kosmos-1101
Kosmos-1101
Kosmos-1101
Kosmos-111 (lunar)1966-03-01
Kosmos-118 (pre-Meteor)1966-05-11
Kosmos-1201966-06-08Kosmos-1201
Kosmos-121 (weather)1966-06-17Kosmos-1211
Kosmos-1211
Kosmos-1211
Kosmos-122 (pre-Meteor)1966-06-25Kosmos-1221
Kosmos-1221
Kosmos-1231966-07-09Kosmos-1231
Kosmos-1231
Kosmos-1231
Kosmos-1241966-07-14Kosmos-1241
Kosmos-1241
Kosmos-1241
Kosmos-1251966-07-20Kosmos-1251
Kosmos-1251
Kosmos-1261966-07-28Kosmos-1261
Kosmos-1261
Kosmos-1261
Kosmos-1261
Kosmos-1271966-08-08Kosmos-1271
Kosmos-1271
Kosmos-1271
Kosmos-1281966-08-28Kosmos-1281
Kosmos-1281
Kosmos-1291966-10-14Kosmos-129
Kosmos-129
Kosmos-129
Kosmos-129
Kosmos-1301966-10-20Kosmos-130
Kosmos-130
Kosmos-130
Kosmos-130
Kosmos-130
Kosmos-1371966-12-21Kosmos-97+137Kosmos-137/219
Kosmos-1421967-02-14Kosmos-1421
Kosmos-144 (pre-Meteor)1967-02-28Kosmos-144
Kosmos-144
Kosmos-144
Kosmos-1451967-03-03Kosmos-145
Kosmos-97/145
Kosmos-145
Kosmos-145
Kosmos-145
Kosmos-146 (pre-Zond)1967-03-10
Kosmos-149 (weather)1967-03-21Kosmos-149
Kosmos-149
Kosmos-149
Kosmos-149
Kosmos-154 (pre-Zond)1967-04-08
Kosmos-156 (pre-Meteor)1967-04-27
Kosmos-1661967-06-16Kosmos-166+other-Kosmos
Kosmos-167 (Venera)1967-06-17
Kosmos-184 (pre-Meteor)1967-10-24
Kosmos-186 / Soyuz1967-10-28
Kosmos-188 / Soyuz1967-10-31
Kosmos-186+188 / Soyuz docking1967-11-01Kosmos-186+188
Kosmos-1961967-12-19Kosmos-108/196
Kosmos-108/196
Kosmos-1+108/196+IK-1+10
Kosmos-2001968-01-20Kosmos-200
Kosmos-206 (pre-Meteor)1968-03-14
Kosmos-2111968-04-09Kosmos-211
Kosmos-2121968-04-14
Kosmos-2131968-04-14Kosmos-2131
Kosmos-2131
Kosmos-212+213 docking1968-04-15Kosmos-212+2131
Kosmos-212+2131
Kosmos-2191968-04-26Kosmos-137/219
Kosmos-226 (pre-Meteor)1968-06-12
Kosmos-2281968-06-21Kosmos-2281
Kosmos-2281
Kosmos-2281
Kosmos-2281
Kosmos-232 (weather)1968-07-16
Kosmos-2611968-12-20Kosmos-261
Kosmos-2631969-01-12Kosmos-263
Kosmos-2651969-02-07Kosmos-265
Kosmos-2661969-02-25Kosmos-266
Kosmos-2671969-02-26Kosmos-267
Kosmos-2721969-03-17Kosmos-2721
Kosmos-2731969-03-22Kosmos-273
Kosmos-300 [failed]1969-09-23
Kosmos-305 (lunar)1969-10-29
Kosmos-3131969-12-03Kosmos-313
Kosmos-318 / Ionosfernaya-11969-12-27Kosmos-318/381
Kosmos-318/381
Kosmos-320 (weather)1970-01-16
Kosmos-359 (Venera)1970-08-22
Kosmos-381 / Ionosfernaya-21970-12-02Kosmos-318/381
Kosmos-318/381
Kosmos-419 (Mars)1971-05-10
Kosmos-482 (Venera)1972-03-31
Kosmos-5571973-05-11Kosmos-557
Kosmos-613 / Soyuz1973-11-30Kosmos-613
Kosmos-6301974-01-30Kosmos-630
Kosmos-6311974-02-06Kosmos-631
Kosmos-6321974-02-12Kosmos-632
Kosmos-6331974-02-27Kosmos-633
Kosmos-6341974-03-05Kosmos-634
Kosmos-6351974-03-14Kosmos-635
Kosmos-6361974-03-20Kosmos-636
Kosmos-6371974-03-26Kosmos-637
Kosmos-638 / Souyz1974-04-03Kosmos-638
Kosmos-6391974-04-04Kosmos-639
Kosmos-6401974-04-11Kosmos-640
Kosmos-6511974-05-15Kosmos-651/654/673
Kosmos-6541974-05-17Kosmos-651/654/673
Kosmos-6651974-06-29Kosmos-665
Kosmos-673 (weather/environment)1974-08-16Kosmos-651/654/673
Kosmos-8941977-02-21
Kosmos-10261978-07-02Kosmos-1026 (energiya)
Kosmos-1045 (weather)1978-10-26
Kosmos-1076 (Okean-E1)1979-02-12
Kosmos-1151 (Okean-E2)1980-01-23
Kosmos-12011980-07-15Kosmos-1201
Kosmos-1383 / Nadezhda1982-06-29Kosmos-1383
Kosmos-14451983-03-15Kosmos-1445
Kosmos-1447 / Nadezhda1983-03-24Kosmos-1447
Kosmos-1484 / Resurs-OE-11983-07-24
Kosmos-1500 (Okean-OE2)1983-09-28Kosmos-1500
Kosmos-1500
Kosmos-15141983-12-14Kosmos-1514
Kosmos-1574 / Nadezhda1984-06-21
Kosmos-1602 (Okean-OE2)1984-09-28
Kosmos-1689 / Resurs-O1-11985-10-03
Kosmos-1766 (Okean-O1-1)1986-06-28
Kosmos-1803 / Almaz-T1 [failed]1986-11-29
Kosmos-1861 / RS-10 / RS-11 (one satellite)1987-06-23Kosmos-1861/RS-10/RS-11
Kosmos-1869 (Okean-O1-2)1987-07-16
Kosmos-1870 / Almaz-T21987-07-25
Kosmos-1939 / Resurs-O1-21988-04-20
Kosmos-2123 / RS-12 / RS-13 (one satellite)1991-02-05Kosmos-2123/RS-12/RS-13 (mislabeled RS-15)
Kosmos-2334, Mexico-OSCAR-30 (MO-30, Unamsat-B)1996-09-05
Kosmos-2418 / GLONASS2004-12-25Kosmos-2418+2419
Kosmos-2418+2419
Kosmos-2419 / GLONASS
Kosmos-24212006-06-25Kosmos-2421
Kosmos-24282007-06-29Kosmos-2428
Kosmos-2428
Kosmos-24292007-09-11Kosmos-2429
Kosmos-24342007-12-09Kosmos-2434
Kosmos-2434

1On the cachets of these items, a common propaganda satellite design was intended at the time of use as a substitute for actual satellite designs. For other examples, see the checklist for the Russian propaganda-design satellite.

InterKosmos (IK) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Interkosmos-11969-10-14IK-1 (ds-u3-ik)
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IKIK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1 series (folded lower solar panels)
IK-1+Kosmos-26/49
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1
IK-1 (all solar panels folded)
IK-1 (all solar panels folded)
IK-1 series
Kosmos-1+108/196+IK-1+10
Interkosmos-21969-12-25IK-2 (ds-u1-ik)
IK-2
Interkosmos-31970-08-07IK-3 (ds-u2-ik)
IK-3
IK-3
IK-3
IK-3
Interkosmos-41970-10-14IK-4 (ds-u3-ik)
IK-4
IK-4
Interkosmos-51971-12-02IK-5 (ds-u2-ik)
IK-5
IK-5 (not IK-1)
Interkosmos-61972-04-07IK-6 (energiya)
Interkosmos-71972-06-30IK-7 (ds-u3-ik)
IK-7
IK-7
Interkosmos-81972-12-01IK-8 (ds-u1-ik)
IK-8
Interkosmos-9 / Kopernik-5001973-04-19IK-9 (ds-u2-ik)
IK-9
IK-9
OAO-3+IK-9
Soyuz-28+IK-9
IK-9
IK-9
IK-9+OAO-2
Interkosmos-101973-10-30IK-10 (ds-u2-ik)
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
IK-10
Kosmos-1+108/196+IK-1+10
Interkosmos-111974-05-17IK-11 (ds-u3-ik)
IK-11
IK-11
Interkosmos-121974-10-31IK-12 (ds-u2-ik)
IK-12
IK-12
IK-12
Interkosmos-131975-03-27IK-13 (ds-u2-ik)
Interkosmos-14 [failed]1975-06-03IK-14 (ds-u3-ik)
Interkosmos-141975-12-11IK-14 (ds-u2-ik)IK-14
Interkosmos-151976-06-19IK-15 (auos-z-t-ik)
Interkosmos-161976-07-27IK-16 (ds-u3-ik)
IK-16
Interkosmos-171977-09-24IK-17 (auos-z-r-e-ik)
IK-17
IK-17
IK-17
Interkosmos-181978-10-24IK-18 (auos-z-m-ik)
IK-18
IK-18+Magion-1
Interkosmos-191979-02-27IK-19 (auos-z-i-ik)
IK-19
IK-19
Interkosmos-201979-11-01IK-20 (auos-z-r-p-ik)
IK-20
IK-20
Interkosmos-211981-02-06IK-21 (auos-z-r-p-ik)
IK-21
Interkosmos-22 / Bulgaria-13001981-08-07IK-22 (bulgaria-1300)
IK-22 (bulgaria-1300)
Interkosmos-23 / Prognoz-101985-04-26IK-23 (Prognoz-10)
IK-23 (Prognoz-10)
Prognoz-10
Interkosmos-241989-09-28IK-24 (auos-z-av-ik)
IK-24+Magion-2
IK-24+Magion-2
IK-24+Magion-2
Interkosmos-251991-12-18IK-25 (auos-z-ap-ik)

Prognoz-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Prognoz-11972-04-14Prognoz-1Prognoz-1
Prognoz-21972-06-29Prognoz-2
Prognoz-2
Prognoz-31973-02-15
Prognoz-41975-12-12
Prognoz-51976-11-25Prognoz-5
Prognoz-5
Prognoz-61977-09-22
Prognoz-71978-10-30
Prognoz-81980-12-25Prognoz-8
Prognoz-8
Prognoz-9 / Relikt-11983-07-01Prognoz-9
Prognoz-9
Prognoz-10 / Interkosmos-231985-04-26Prognoz-10
Prognoz-10
Prognoz-10
PrognozUnspecifiedMagion-1+Prognoz

Aureole / Oreol / ARCAD (ARCtic Aurora Density) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Aureole-1 / Oreol-1 / ARCAD-11971-12-27Oreol-1ARCAD/Aureole/OreolARCAD/Aureole/Oreol
Aureole-2 / Oreol-2 / ARCAD-21973-12-26
Aureole-3 / Oreol-3 / ARCAD-31981-09-21Oreol-3

Elektron-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Elektron-11964-01-30Elektron-1
Elektron-1
ElektronElektron
Elektron-2Elektron-2
Elektron-2
Elektron-2
Elektron-31964-07-10
Elektron-4

Proton-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Proton-11965-07-16Proton-1ProtonProton
Proton-21965-11-02
Proton-31966-07-06Proton-3
Proton-41968-11-16Proton-4

MAGnetospheric and IONospheric (Magion) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Magion-11978-10-24Magion-1
IK-18+Magion-1
MagionMagion
Magion-21989-09-28Magion-2
Magion-2
Magion-2
IK-24+Magion-2
IK-24+Magion-2
IK-24+Magion-2
Magion-31991-12-18Magion-3
Magion-41995-08-02Magion-4
Magion-4
Magion-4/5
Magion-4/5
Magion-5
Magion-51996-08-29

Interbol-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Interbol-11995-08-02Magion-4/5+Interbol-1/2
Magion-4/5+Interbol-1/2
Interbol-21996-08-29

Resurs-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Resurs-OE-1 / Kosmos-14841983-07-24
Resurs-O1-2 / Kosmos-16891985-10-03
Resurs-O1-2 / Kosmos-19391988-04-20
Resurs-F11989-05-25Resurs-F
Resurs-F21989-06-27Resurs-F2
Resurs-F31989-07-18
Resurs-F41989-08-15
Resurs-F51989-09-06
Resurs-F61990-05-29
Resurs-F71990-07-17
Resurs-F81990-08-16
Resurs-F91990-09-07
Resurs-F101991-05-21
Resurs-F111991-06-28
Resurs-F121991-07-23
Resurs-F131991-08-21
Resurs-F141992-04-29
Resurs-F151992-06-23
Resurs-F16, Pion-1, Pion-21992-08-19
Resurs-5001992-11-15
Resurs-F171993-05-21
Resurs-F181993-06-25
Resurs-F191993-08-24
Resurs-O1-31994-11-04Resurs-O1
Resurs-F201995-09-26
Resurs-F-1M1997-11-18
Resurs-O1-41998-07-10Resurs-O1
Resurs-F-1M1999-09-28
Resurs-O219??Resurs-O2

[Resurs-launched] Pion-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Pion-1 [Resurs-F16 launched]1992-08-19
Pion-2 [Resurs-F16 launched]1992-08-19

Okean-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Kosmos-1076 (Okean-E1)1979-02-12OkeanOkean
Kosmos-1151 (Okean-E2)1980-01-23
Kosmos-1500 (Okean-OE1)1983-09-28Kosmos-1500
Kosmos-1500
Kosmos-1602 (Okean-OE2)1984-09-28
Kosmos-1766 (Okean-O1-1)1986-06-28
Kosmos-1869 (Okean-O1-2)1987-07-16
Okean-11988-07-05
Okean-2 [failed]1989-06-09
Okean-21990-02-28
Okean-31991-06-04
Okean-41994-10-11Okean-O
Okean-O
Okean-O11999-07-17

Ukraine / Russia Sich-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Sich-1 / Okean1995-08-31Sich-1
Sich
Sich-1
SichSich
Sich-1m [failed]2004-12-24Sich-1m

Sputnik-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Sputnik-11957-10-04Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1 (5th anniv.)
Sputnik-1 (5th anniv.)
Sputnik-1 (5th anniv.)
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1+2+3
Sputnik-1+2+3
Transit-4+Sputnik-1+other
Sputnik-2 (with dog Laika)1957-11-03Sputnik-2Sputnik-2 (50th anniv.)
Sputnik-3 (first attempt) [failed]1958-04-27
Sputnik-3 (upper-atmosphere, ionospheric)1958-05-15Sputnik-3
Sputnik-3
Sputnik-3
Sputnik-3
Sputnik-3Sputnik-3
Sputnik-4 (Vostok test)1960-05-15Sputnik-4
Sputnik-5 (with dogs Strelka and Belka)1960-08-19Sputnik-5
Sputnik-6 (with dogs Pchelka and Mushka)1960-12-01Sputnik-6
Sputnik-7 (Venus attempt)1961-02-04Sputnik-7
Sputnik-8 / Venera-11961-02-12Venera-1 (1st anniv.)
Sputnik-9 (with dog Chernushka)1961-03-09
Sputnik-10 (with dog Zvezdochka)1961-03-25
Sputnik-11 / Kosmos-1 — Sputnik-18 / Kosmos-81962-03-16 — 1962-08-18See Kosmos table
Sputnik-19 (Venus attempt)1962-08-25
Sputnik-20 (Venus attempt)1962-09-01
Sputnik-21 (Venus attempt)1962-09-12
Sputnik-22 (Mars attempt)1962-10-24
Sputnik-23 / Mars-11962-11-01Mars-1
Sputnik-24 (Mars attempt)1962-11-04
Sputnik-25 (lunar attempt)1963-01-04
Sputnik-40 / RS-17a, Sputnik-40-2 / RS-17b1997-10-05Sputnik-40
Sputnik-41 / RS-181998-10-25RS-18
Sputnik-99 / RS-191999-04-16

Other (selected) Russian scientific/research and environmental-observing satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coverspostal items
Polyot-11963-11-01Polyot-1
Polyot-1
Polyot-21964-04-12Polyot-2
Progress-51979-03-12Progress-5
Progress-5 (with Salyut-6)
Relikt-1 / Prognoz-91983-07-01
Almaz-11991-03-31Almaz-1
Almaz-1
Almaz-1Almaz-1
Relikt-2Never launched ?Relikt-2
Foton1985-04-16 —>Foton-M2
Foton-M3
Foton-M3
Foton-M3
Foton-M3
Foton-M3 (return)
Foton


Links to Russian satellite information:

(The links below lead to information sources that are maintained by others. They are not part of this Website.)


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This Website created and maintained by Don Hillger and Garry Toth.
Updated: 2008-12-01