Polyus (spacecraft)

Polyus
Mission typeMilitary technology
Mission durationSpacecraft failure
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass80,000 kilograms (180,000 lb)
Dimensions37 m × 4.10 m
Start of mission
Launch date15 May 1987 (1987-05-15)
RocketEnergia
Launch siteBaikonur 250
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude280 km (170 mi)
Apogee altitude280 km (170 mi)
Inclination64°
 
Cutaway drawing of the Polyus spacecraft

The Polyus spacecraft (Russian: Полюс, pole), also known as Polus, Skif-DM, GRAU index 17F19DM, was a prototype Soviet orbital weapons platform designed to destroy Strategic Defense Initiative satellites with a megawatt carbon-dioxide laser.[1] It had a Functional Cargo Block derived from a TKS spacecraft to control its orbit and it could launch test targets to demonstrate the fire control system.

  1. ^ Konstantin Lantratov. "Звёздные войны, которых не было" [Star Wars that didn't happen].

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