Orlets-2 / Yenisei - Seventh Generation Photo Recons

When the second stage of developing Orlets was launched, Orelts-1 was evidently chosen as the prototype and a new capsule machine for 22 capsules was designed for it. Thanks to this, its lifetime could be increased almost four-fold to 160-180 days leaving the pace of deorbiting ex­posed films to earth unchanged. For Orlets-1 that had eight capsules and that initially flew for 58-60 days the rate was one capsule in 7-8 days. In 1994 the design work and ground testing of Orlets of the second generation were completed.

The first flight test of Orlets-2 was conducted between August 26, 1994 and April 4, 1995. The mission lasted for 224 days. In August, 1994, an apparently new type of photographic reconnaissance spacecraft was launched as Kosmos 2290. Although its initial orbit of 212 km by 292 km at an inclination of 64.8 degrees was not unusual, its use of a Zenit-2 launch vehicle was. Throughout Kosmos 2290's 221-day mission, the spacecraft behaved similarly to other Russian photo recons, although its apogee altitude was progressively raised during normal anti-drag maneuvers. Just prior to its return to Earth, the spacecraft moved into a markedly higher orbit unlike previous military spacecraft. One week later the spacecraft was de-orbited over the Pacific Ocean.

In the absence of any information on Kosmos 2290 by the Russian Military Space Forces, the space craft's nature was under investigation in the West, and the spacecraft was tentatively designated as the first seventh-generation Photo recon (Reference 46).

Even though Orlets-2 made only one test flight, on November 30, 1997 it was adopted for service and designated Yenisei. The second Orlets-2 was in or­bit between September 25, 2000 and April 20, 2001. In the July 26, 2009 imaging reconnaissance satellite launch of Kosmos-2441 is believed to be the seven year design mission life time "Persona" Satellite. This extended life imaging satellite was launched by the Soyuz-U higher performance booster.