Polyus (spacecraft)
Soviet space weapon prototype / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Not to be confused with Polyot (rocket).
The Polyus spacecraft (Russian: Полюс, pole), also known as Polus, Skif-DM, GRAU index 17F19DM, was a prototype Soviet orbital weapons platform designed to destroy Strategic Defense Initiative satellites with a megawatt carbon-dioxide laser.[1] It had a Functional Cargo Block derived from a TKS spacecraft to control its orbit and it could launch test targets to demonstrate the fire control system.
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Quick Facts Mission type, Mission duration ...
Mission type | Military technology |
---|---|
Mission duration | Spacecraft failure |
Spacecraft properties | |
Launch mass | 80,000 kilograms (180,000 lb) |
Dimensions | 37 m × 4.10 m |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 15 May 1987 (1987-05-15) |
Rocket | Energia |
Launch site | Baikonur 250 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 280 km (170 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 280 km (170 mi) |
Inclination | 64° |
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