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International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: Phillip Clark on 05/09/2019 02:55 pm

Title: Reference numbers for Soviet/Russian satellites
Post by: Phillip Clark on 05/09/2019 02:55 pm

As on e of my many on-going projects which is hurting my sight, I am updating a spreadsheet which lists all kinds of information about the Soviet/Russian photoreconnaissance satellite series.

Anik has posted a detailed spreadsheet of all launches involving Russian propulsion systems with supported spacecraft data, but I am wondering if anyone has managed to “de-code” some reference or production or serial numbers for the satellites.

The photoreconnaissance satellite family has used various formats of these numbers and those which I have come across so far are:

Example – Cosmos 20:   Г15001-01
There are variations along this theme, with different Russian letters being used to start the sequence.

Example – Cosmos 208: 15000-11
Note – there is no longer a lead Russian letter.

Example – Cosmos 366: 7705711-121
I have added the hyphen to the number because for this format the last three digits have previously been quoted in Novosti Kosmonavtiki articles as being the spacecraft serial number.

Example – Cosmos 492: 78033-269
Similar to the previous format but this format has two fewer digits in the first part.

This style of number then appears to become the standard.

In addition there is a “L” number (eg, 47L) which I assume is some kind of “flight number” although the numbers for each satellite series is not sequential.

Can anyone de-code these please?   Or do we accept these as being one of the many mysteries of life?

Title: Re: Reference numbers for Soviet/Russian satellites
Post by: Alter Sachse on 05/09/2019 04:11 pm

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 05/09/2019 02:55 pm

Example – Cosmos 366: 7705711-121

These numbers with 10 digits were used only in 1970 and 1971. (Manufacturing)
77057 1970
78014 First half-year 1971
77024 Second half of 1971

Title: Re: Reference numbers for Soviet/Russian satellites
Post by: Phillip Clark on 05/09/2019 04:51 pm

Thank you for the responses.

So, for the all-numerical production numbers (as I will call them), reading from the left the first three digits relate to the factory, the next two to the year/year half and the remaining five or three digits are the actual satellite's serial number?   Or am I being too logical (a failing of mine, I know)?

I have noted that in most cases the last digit of the "flight article" number is the same as the last digit of the production number.

Title: Re: Reference numbers for Soviet/Russian satellites
Post by: Stan Black on 05/10/2019 02:12 pm

Is it year of production, or year the customer signs and accepts for item?

Title: Re: Reference numbers for Soviet/Russian satellites
Post by: Phillip Clark on 05/10/2019 03:44 pm

Does "+" after data indicate that the data are estimated/deduced?