| Operator | OKB-1 |
|---|---|
| Cospar id | 1985-062A |
| Satcat | 15918 |
| Spacecraft | Progress s/n 126 |
| Progress 7K-TG | Progress s/n 126 |
| Manufacturer | NPO Energia |
| Dry mass | 7020 kg |
| Launch mass | 7280 kg |
| Payload mass | 2500 kg |
| Dimensions | 7.48 m in length and 2.72 m in diameter |
| Launch date | 19 July 1985, 13:05 UTC |
| Launch rocket | Soyuz-U s/n B15000-446 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Launch contractor | OKB-1 |
| Decay date | 30 August 1985, 01:20 UTC |
| Orbit epoch | 19 July 1985 |
| Orbit reference | Geocentric |
| Orbit regime | Low Earth |
| Orbit periapsis | 298 km |
| Orbit apoapsis | 358 km |
| Orbit inclination | 51.66° |
| Orbit period | 91.0 minutes |
| Apsis | gee |
| Cargo mass | 2500 kg |
| Programme | Progress (spacecraft) |
| Previous mission | Progress 24 |
| Next mission | Progress 25 |
| Programme 2 | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous mission 2 | Kosmos 1668 |
| Next mission 2 | Kosmos 1670 |
| Docking target | Salyut 7 |
|---|---|
| dock | 21 July 1985, 15:05 UTC |
| Docking port | Aft |
| Undocking date | 28 August 1985, 21:50 UTC |
Kosmos 1669 (Russian: Космос-1669) was a Progress spacecraft used to resupply the Salyut 7 space station. It was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft with the serial number 126.
Mission
Kosmos-1669 was launched by a Soyuz-U carrier rocket from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 13:05 UTC on 19 July 1985. The spacecraft docked with the aft port of Salyut 7 at 15:05 UTC on 21 July 1985. Following undocking on 28 August 1985, it moved away from the station, before returning and redocking to test the reliability of the docking system.[1] It undocked for a second time at 21:50 UTC,[2] and was deorbited on 30 August 1985, with the spacecraft burning up over the Pacific Ocean at 01:20 UTC.
Salyut-7
Kosmos-1669 was the second cargo spacecraft (after Progress 24) to visit Salyut 7 after its reactivation, and also the last Progress flight as part of the Salyut programme. It delivered new spacesuit, to replace ones damaged by cold temperatures whilst Salyut 7 was deactivated,[3] as well as replacement parts and consumables. This Progress mission was followed by one last cargo mission to Salyut 7, but carried out by an TKS spacecraft: TKS-4, which would become the fourth and last flight of an TKS spacecraft. The next following mission of a Progress cargo spacecraft, Progress 25, flew to Mir.[1]
As of 2009, Kosmos-1669 is the only Progress spacecraft to have received a Kosmos designation, which are usually reserved for military, experimental and failed spacecraft. It has been reported that this may have been an error due to confusion with a TKS spacecraft which later became Kosmos 1686,[4] or that the spacecraft may have gone out of control shortly after launch, but then been recovered after the Kosmos designation had been applied.[1] Alternatively, it could have been given the designation as it was used to test modifications that would be used on future Progress missions.[3] Some news agencies reported that it was a free-flying Progress-derived spacecraft,[3] or that it was a new type of spacecraft derived from the Progress.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Progress". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 26 December 2001. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Christy, Robert. "Third Expedition to Salyut 7 - 1984". Zarya. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Portree, David S. F (March 1995). "Mir Hardware Heritage". NASA. Archived from the original on 2002-04-06. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Christy, Robert. "Fourth Expedition to Salyut 7 - 1985". Zarya. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ "New Soviet Craft Docks With Salyut". New York Times. 1985-07-23. Retrieved 2009-04-11.