Poljus

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Mission dates
Polo (Polyus) .png
Mission: Poljus
Crew: unmanned
Target: Earth orbit
Start vehicle: Energija
Start on: May 15, 1987 / Baikonur
Coupling on: -
Decoupling on: -
Re-entry on: May 15, 1987
Flight duration: ?
burns up over: South pacific
Earth orbits: ?
previous DCS mission :

Kwant

following DCS mission :

Kwant 2

Sectional view of the Poljus satellite with integrated TKS-6 under payload fairing (above)

Poljus or also Skif-DM ( Russian Полюс for Pol or Скиф-ДМ , DM stands for Д емонстрационный М акетный ; GRAU index 17F19DM) is a technological prototype for missile defense systems in space, which was launched on May 15, 1987 with the heavy Energija Missile should be launched.

technology

Poljus was 36.9 m long and 77 t heavy, had a maximum diameter of 4.1 m and consisted of two blocks: the station itself and the FGB block (FGB: Abbreviation for Russian функционально-грузовой блок , German for  storage and Function module ) of a TKS spaceship that had engines and navigation systems. A similar FGB block is also used as the Zarya module on the International Space Station .

The payload consisted of various systems that could be used in operational missile defense systems, e.g. B. a system with which subsatellites can be deposited without recoil. In the final phase it was planned, in breach of the space treaty , a multiple orbital bombardment system (MOBS) , an orbital weapons platform with u. a. To station re-entry vehicles with nuclear warheads . The combat satellite is said to have been equipped with extensive self-protection devices, such as space mines, guns and glare lasers. The prototype should only eject targets in orbit and test the laser target acquisition system on them.

begin

Energija with Poljus

Since Poljus was too heavy for a conventional launcher, it was supposed to fly with the first launch of the Energija rocket, which was the most powerful at the time. Since the Energija had no payload fairing , Poljus was attached to the rocket like a space shuttle. Poljus was completely covered with black paint except for the large inscription " Полюс " (Poljus), as this was required by its temperature regime. In addition, there was a writing " Мир-2 " (Mir-2) on the front of Poljus . This was likely used for camouflage purposes to obscure the actual nature of the payload. Due to technical peculiarities, Poljus had to be attached to the rocket with the engines facing upwards, so that after being detached from its launcher, it should first turn 180 degrees before it could start its engines to reach orbit. Due to an error, however, the rotation did not stop as planned and Poljus then continued to rotate, so that after the ignition of the engines no orbital speed could be reached and Poljus then sank in the Pacific. The photos of the Energija published by the Soviet government at the time only showed them from the perspective from which the mysterious payload could not be seen. It was not until the 1990s that individual photos and information about Poljus emerged.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Thomas Kretschmer, et al .: Military Use of Space - Basics and Options. Report-Verl., Frankfurt am Main 2004, ISBN 3-932385-18-7 ; P. 140 ff.
  2. ↑ Drucksache 15/1371 p. 46, bundestag.de, pdf accessed on December 30, 2011