Kosmos 1379 (Russian: Космос 1379 meaning Cosmos 1379) was a low orbit 'combat' satellite which was used by the Soviet Union on 18 June 1982 as an antisatellite demonstration; an exercise that the United States called a 'seven hour nuclear war'.[3] Kosmos 1379 intercepted and destroyed Kosmos 1375 as a demonstration of Soviet anti-satellite capability.[4] It was the last satellite to be launched as part of the Istrebitel Sputnikov programme.

Kosmos-1379
Mission typeASAT practice launch
COSPAR ID1982-060A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.13281
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeIS-A
ManufacturerTsNII Kometa
Start of mission
Launch date18 June 1982, 11:04 (1982-06-18UTC11:04Z) UTC[1]
RocketTsyklon-2
Launch siteBaikonur 90
End of mission
DisposalIntercepted Kosmos 1375
Destroyed18 June 1982 (1982-06-19)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude140 kilometres (87 mi)
Apogee altitude542 kilometres (337 mi)
Inclination65 degrees
Period91.35 minutes
Epoch18 June 1982[2]

References

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  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  3. ^ Zaitsev, Yuri (6 November 2008). "Russia has lots of satellite-killing options available". UPI. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Richard, Arsensals of Folly: The Making of Nuclear Arms Race, (London: Pocket Books, 2009), 152-154.