COSMOS 1903 (18701)

COSPAR: 1987-105A | Alt Name: Kosmos-1903

Image
COSMOS 1903 Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

December 21, 1987

Launch Site

PLMSC

Launch Pad

LC41/1

Launch Vehicle

Molniya 8K78M

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

18701

International Designator

1987-105A

Epoch

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 02:57:37 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

69.02°

Right Ascension

193.94°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

95.09°

Period

717.45 min

Mean Motion

2.01 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info

Name

COSMOS 1903

Alternative Name

Kosmos-1903

Type

Payload

Status

Unknown

Owner

PVO

Country

USSR

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 18701U 87105A   26177.12335236  .00000177  00000-0  00000-0 0  9991
2 18701  69.0165 193.9414 4421744  95.0865 315.1902  2.00710482282856

Source: Celestrak

Summary
COSMOS 1903 (also known as Kosmos-1903) is an early warning satellite launched by the Soviet Union on December 21, 1987, from Plesetsk using a Molniya 8K78M launch vehicle. It has dimensions of 4 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter with a span of 5 meters. The satellite weighs 1150 kg dry and had an initial mass at launch of 1250 kg. Its mission is to provide early warning capabilities, equipped with a payload named Oko 73D6 No. 6040. COSMOS 1903 is powered by two deployable fixed solar arrays along with batteries for energy storage and stabilization. The satellite's shape consists of a cylinder plus two panels and has an RCS value of 13.0846. It was manufactured by NPOL/KOMET for the PVO (Soviet Air Defence Forces).
Physical Characteristics

Length

4

Diameter

2

Span

5

Dry Mass

1150

Launch Mass

1250

Shape

Cyl + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

13.0846

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Oko 73D6 No. 6040

Purpose

Early warning

Mission

Early warning

Manufacturer

NPOL/KOMET

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Oko

Configuration

Unknown

Motor

Unknown

Equipment

Unknown

Power System

2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

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