STATUS OF SOVIET RORSAT

Document Type:

FOIA [1]

Collection:

FOIA Collection [2]

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

06863660

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

Original Classification:

Document Page Count:

Document Creation Date:

March 9, 2023

Document Release Date:

September 30, 2020

Sequence Number:

Case Number:

F-2019-01181

Publication Date:

December 5, 1977

File:

Attachment	Size
STATUS OF SOVIET RORSAT[15826367].pdf [3]	34.25 KB

Body:

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 b)(3) (b)(3) (b)(1) (b)(1) (b)(3) Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660 Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660 Approved for Release: 2020/09/28 C06863660