Prognoz (satellite)
Forecasters (Russian Прогноз ) is the name of a Soviet scientific satellite program. It consisted of ten satellites that were launched from 1972-1985 with Molniya -M carrier rocket from launch complex 31 /6 of the cosmodrome Baikonur.
The satellites were built by Lavochkin and had the manufacturer's designation SO -M. They have a cylindrical form of about 2 m in diameter and a height of 0.925 m, the scientific instruments are attached to the surface of the cylinder. Power is supplied by four triangular solar panels of 6 m span, which are folded during launch upwards. The position control is implemented by Sun sensors and nitrogen gas pressure nozzles.
Primarily the satellites studying the sun served. The last satellite have also served to study the Earth's magnetosphere and to verify the Big Bang theory. The tenth and last satellite launched as part of the Intercosmos program. Successors were two satellites that were designated as forecasters -M or Interbol.