STATUS OF SOVIET RORSAT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06863660
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2020
• Case Number: F-2019-01181
• Publication Date: December 5, 1977

Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660
5 DECEMBER 1977
STA1US OF SOVIET RORSAT
As of 28 November, there has been no significant change
in the Status of Cosmos 954, a radar ocean
reconnaissance satellite (RORSAl)/
As previous RURSA s
terminated their missions, a pertion of the veni,ip
(which we believe contains the nuclear reactor) Wus
boosted from an altitude of about 140 nm to about 500
nm. This prevents the nuclear materials from
reentering the atmosphere for over 500 years, well in
excess of the half life of the estimated nuclear power
supply. We believe that the RORSAT hds a faiIsafe
mechanism designed to start the sequence to boost tJie
power suL o a hi her orbit when certain ,...riteria
are met.
ro p e
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(b)(1)
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Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660
Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660
Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660