COSMOS 954- A SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06863656
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2020
• Case Number: F-2019-01181
• Publication Date: March 8, 1978

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Weapons Intelligence
Daily Review
8 Mardi 1978
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OFFICE OF WEAPONS INTELLIGENCE
Weapons Intelligence Daily Review
8 MARCH 1978
COSMOS 954 -- A SUMMARY
Cosmos 954, a nuclear powered radar ocean
reconnaissance satellite (RORSAT) launched on 18
September 1977, reentered the atmosphere over northern
Canada on 24 January 1978. To date, at least 10 pieces
of the satellite have been located, one of which is
highly radioactive.
Cosmos 954 was launched two days after the launch of
another RORSAT, Cosmos 952. (Normally, the Soviets
launch RORSATs in pairs in the same orbital plane.)
Cosmos 952 and 954 collected data in a cooperative role
a ainst surface vesselsJ
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On 6 January, Cosmos 954 began to tumble, accelerating
its rate of orbital decay. It then was apparent that
the Soviets would be unable to boost its nuclear
reactor into a higher orbit. We do not know why Cosmos
954 began to tumble. It may have depleted its supply
of attitude control gas or it may have, as stated by
TASS, undergone a fast depressurization due to a
collision "with some other object of natural or
artificial origin."
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8 MARCH 197s
me KUKSAI s oevelopment program nas Peen a long one.
In the last few years, there have been numerous
failures in the program; however, Cosmos 954 was the
only vehicle which failed to boost its nuclear payload
Into a disposal orbit. In spite of its long
development program, these recent RORSAT failures lead
us to question this satellite system's reliability. It
Is possible that subtle, undetected changes or
improvements to various subsystems have been made to
update the system, causing the erratic demonstrated
lifetimes. Despite the recent failures, we expect the
RORSAT to continue to be used in controlled situations
to monitor US and Allied exercises.
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Events Leading to the Decay of Cosmos 954
Event
Cosmos 954 launched from
Tyuratam -- begins
sensor activity
Satellite loses stability;
orbital decay accelerates
No apparent Soviet interest
in satellite
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Days to
Reentry
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6 Jan 78
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Chemical, biological and
radiological exercises by
Soviet and non-Soviet Warsaw
Pact forces, possibly
In preparation for
Cosmos 954's reentry
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