According to press reports in the Russian Daily Online Kommersant, Cosmos 2421, a Legend (US-PU) ocean recon satellite launched on June 25, has failed to start its mission. The reason given is that one of its two solar panels have failed to deploy and the satellite lacks the power to activate surveillance and target indication devices.
It was the U.S. Space Command that first reported problems with this Russian US-PU satellite. Though the RF Defense Ministry, Russia’s Space Agency (Roskosmos) and Space Forces declined to comment, a source with the General Naval Staff said on July 1 that Cosmos-2421 [US-PU got this name after delivery into the orbit] really has problems, which are currently being tackled by experts.
The satellite spent the past week maneuvering in an attempt to open the second solar panel. All efforts have proved fruitless, the source said, but Arsenal Design Bureau that developed the satellite still hopes to recover the satellite.
According to the Kommersant report the Russian military doesn't share the optimism of the firm that developed the satellite. The satellite was produced 15 years ago and kept in the storage until its June 25 launch. Arsenal has troubles not only with US-PU birds, but also with a new Liana satellites, which are expected to replace Legend.
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