Polet

(Polyot), the name of the first maneuverable artificial earth satellites developed in space technology and equipped with instrumentation and propulsion systems enabling mid-flight changes in altitude and the orbital plane. Scientific equipment, a telemetric system, and radio transmitters were also mounted onboard.

Polet 1 was launched Nov. 1, 1963. Its initial orbit had a perigee of 339 km and an apogee of 592 km. After a series of maneuvers, Polet 1 was injected into an orbit with an apogee of 1,437 km. Polet 2 was launched Apr. 12, 1964. Orbital maneuvers resulted in new flight parameters: a perigee of 310 km, an apogee ranging from 465 to 500 km, and an orbital inclination of 60° instead of 236 km, 465 km, and 58°, respectively. Polet 1 and Polet 2 will continue to exist for about 25 years.