Raduga (Gran, 11F638)

Raduga (Gran) [NPO PM]

The Raduga or Gran satellites were a sereis of Soviet geostationary communication satellites for both military and governmental purposes.

Raduga was designed to support military communication, the Orbita ground TV network, as well as provide telephone and telegraph communications across the entire Eastern hemisphere except for polar regions.

The KAUR-3 spacecraft bus was 3-axis stabilized using liquid propellant micro-engines to within 0.25 degrees of the earth's centre. The single-unit body was equipped with solar panels, and active liquid-gas phase-change thermoregulation system, and a corrective engine unit for making orbital maneuvers. 25 square meters of solar panels provided 1280 W of power.

Raduga's communication payload consisted of two C-Band three-channel transponders designated Delta-1 and Delta-2. Delta-1 was utilized for military communications while Delta-2 was used for civilian applications.

The Raduga / Gran series was succeded by the Raduga-1 / Globus series.