Tsiklon-2A | US-AO 5

US-A (Upravlenniye Sputnik Aktivny) were active radar satellites for ocean surveillance. The high power consumtion of the active radar required a nuclear reactor as power source. The satellites were known as RORSAT in the west. The US-AO series consisted of satellites, which tested all the system components but the nuclear reactor. They were battery powered.

Mission Details

  • Launch date: January 25, 1969 at 11:14 AM UTC
  • Launch vehicle: Tsiklon-2A
  • Operator: Soviet Space Program
  • Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
  • Mission type: Government/Top Secret