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Home 1973 Summary
1972 spacecrafts 1974 spacecrafts
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The 146 spacecrafts launched in 1973 :
1) Luna 21 2) Lunokhod 2 3) Kosmos 543 / Zenit-4M 4) Kosmos 544 / Tselina-O
5) Kosmos 545 / DS-P1-Yu 62 6) Kosmos 546 / Tsiklon GVM 7) Kosmos 547 / Zenit-2M 8) Molniya 1-23
9) Kosmos 548 / Zenit-4M 10) Prognoz 3 11) Kosmos 549 / Tselina-O 12) Kosmos 550 / Zenit-4Mk
13) Kosmos 551 / Zenit-4M 14) Ryolite RH-1 15) Big Bird 5 / KH-9 5 HEXAGON 16) Meteor 1-14
17) Kosmos 552 / Zenit-2M 18) Nauka [14] 19) Salyut 2 20) Molniya 2-5
21) Pioneer 11 22) Kosmos 553 / DS-P1-Yu 55 23) Kosmos 554 / Zenit-4MK 24) Interkosmos 9  Kopernik-500
25) Telesat 2 / Anik 2 26) Kosmos / US-A 27) Kosmos 555 / Zenit-2M 28) Nauka [15]
29) Kosmos 556 / Zenit-4MK 30) Kosmos 557 (Salyut) 31) Skylab 1 32) Titan Samos 38 / KH-8 38 GAMBIT
33) Kosmos 558 / DS-P1-Yu 65 34) Kosmos 559 / Zenit-4MK 35) D-5A Pollux 36) D-5B Castor
37) Kosmos 560 / Zenit-4M 38) Kosmos / Tsiklon 39) Skylab 2 40) Kosmos 561 / Zenit-2M
41) Nauka [16] 42) Meteor 1-15 43) Kosmos 562 / DS-P1-Yu 66 44) Kosmos 563 / Zenit-4M
45) Kosmos 564 / Strela-1M 46) Kosmos 565 / Strela-1M 47) Kosmos 566 / Strela-1M 48) Kosmos 567 / Strela-1M
49) Kosmos 568 / Strela-1M 50) Kosmos 569 / Strela-1M 51) Kosmos 570 / Strela-1M 52) Kosmos 571 / Strela-1M
53) Kosmos 572 / Zenit-4M 54) Explorer 49 / RAE-B 55) IMEWS 4 / DSP 2 56) Kosmos 573 (Soyuz)
57) Kosmos 574 / Tsiklon 58) Kosmos 575 / Zenit-2M 59) Kosmos / Tselina-O 60) Titan Samos 39 / KH-8 39 GAMBIT
61) Kosmos 576 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) 62) Kosmos / Zenit-4M 63) Molniya 2-6 64) Big Bird 6 / KH-9 6 HEXAGON
65) NOAA 66) Mars 4 67) Kosmos 577 / Zenit-4M 68) Mars 5
69) Skylab 3 70) Kosmos 578 / Zenit-2M 71) Mars 6 72) Mars 7
73) DMSP 4 / DMSP Block-5B F4 74) Kosmos 579 / Zenit-4M 75) SDS 2 / Jumpseat 3 76) Kosmos 580 / DS-P1-Yu 59
77) Intelsat 4G 78) Kosmos 581 / Zenit-4M 79) Kosmos 582 / Tselina-O 80) Molniya 1-24
81) Kosmos 583 / Zenit-2M 82) Kosmos 584 / Zenit-4M 83) Kosmos 585 / Sfera 84) Kosmos 586 / Tsiklon
85) JSSW 1 86) Kosmos 587 / Zenit-4MK 87) Soyuz 12 88) Titan Samos 40 / KH-8 40 GAMBIT
89) Kosmos 588 / Strela-1M 90) Kosmos 589 / Strela-1M 91) Kosmos 590 / Strela-1M 92) Kosmos 591 / Strela-1M
93) Kosmos 592 / Strela-1M 94) Kosmos 593 / Strela-1M 95) Kosmos 594 / Strela-1M 96) Kosmos 595 / Strela-1M
97) Kosmos 596 / Zenit-2M 98) Kosmos 597 / Zenit-4MK 99) Kosmos 598 / Zenit-4M 100) Kosmos 599 / Zenit-2M
101) Kosmos 600 / Zenit-4M 102) Kosmos 601 / DS-P1-Yu 60 103) Molniya 2-7 104) Kosmos 602 / Zenit-4MK
105) Explorer 50 / IMP 8  106) Kosmos 603 / Zenit-4M 107) Kosmos 604 / Tselina-D 108) Transit O-20 / NNS O-20
109) Interkosmos 10 110) Kosmos 605 / Biocosmos 1 111) Kosmos 606 / Oko 112) Mariner 10
113) NOAA 3 114) Kosmos 607 / Zenit-4MK 115) Big Bird 7 / KH-9 7 HEXAGON 116) Hitchhiker 33
117) Hitchhiker 34 118) Molniya 1-25 119) Skylab 4 120) Kosmos 608 / DS-P1-Yu 69
121) Kosmos 609 / Zenit-4M 122) Kosmos 610 / Tselina-O 123) Kosmos 611 / DS-P1-Yu 64 124) Kosmos 612 / Zenit-4MK
125) Kosmos 613 (Soyuz) 126) Molniya 1-26 127) Kosmos 614 / Strela-2 129) Kosmos 615 / DS-P1-I 13
129) DSCS 2-3 130) DSCS 2-4 131) Explorer 51 / AE-C 132) Kosmos 616 / Zenit-4MT (Orion)
133) Soyuz 13 134) Kosmos 617 / Strela-1M 135) Kosmos 618 / Strela-1M 136) Kosmos 619 / Strela-1M
137) Kosmos 620 / Strela-1M 138) Kosmos 621 / Strela-1M 139) Kosmos 622 / Strela-1M 140) Kosmos 623 / Strela-1M
141) Kosmos 624 / Strela-1M 142) Kosmos 625 / Zenit-4MK 143) Molniya 2-8 144) Oreol 2 (Aureole 2)
145) Kosmos 626 / US-A 146) Kosmos 627 / Tsiklon
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Spacecraft Entries
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Luna 21
Spacecraft:  E-8 No. 204
Numbers: 1973 payload #1 ; 1973-001A ; 1787th spacecraft.
Type: Lunar probe
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 8 January 1973 at 6h55 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodromer's LC-81L, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 259-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Lunokhod 2
Spacecraft:  8EL No. 204
Numbers: 1973 payload #2 ; n/a ; 1788th spacecraft.
Type: Lunar vehicle
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 8 January 1973 at 6h55 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodromer's LC-81L, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 259-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission: On 15 January 1973, just one month after the last Apollo lunar expedition (Apollo 17), Luna 21 landed softly just 170 km north of the Apollo 17 site, on the eastern margin of Mare Serenitatis. A day later, the rover Lunokhod 2 disembarked and, on 18 January, it began its record-setting journey of 39 kilometres across the lunar landscape. (The original reported distance was 37 km, but the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s topographic information determined the the length of the traverse to be 39 km.)  Along its traverse, the lunar rover carried out a series of scientific experiments.  In particular, it explored a small crater, looking for changes in the local magnetic field due to the crater and characteristics of the regolith.
Lunokhod 2 traverse as seen by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter forty years later.  (See Tracks of Lunokhod 2)
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;LROC’s “Tracks of Lunokhod 2” ;
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Kosmos 543
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #3 ; 1973-002A ; 1789th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 11 January 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 544
Spacecraft:  Tselina-O
Numbers: 1973 payload #4 ; 1973-003A ; 1790th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 20 January 1973 at 3h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M Yu149-44).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 545
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 62
Numbers: 1973 payload #5 ; 1973-004A ; 1791st spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 24 January 1973 at 11h45 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 546
Spacecraft: Tsiklon GVM
Numbers: 1973 payload #6 ; 1973-005A ; 1792nd spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 26 January 1973 at 6h14 UTC, from Kapustin Yar Cosmodrome's LC-107, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M Yu149-37).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 547
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #7 ; 1973-006A ; 1793rd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 1st February 1973 at 8h38 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Molniya 1-23
Spacecraft:  Molniya 1Y
Numbers: 1973 payload #8 ; 1973-007A ; 1794th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 3 February 1973 at 6h00 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 548
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #9 ; 1973-008A ; 1795th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 February 1973 at 13h26 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's 43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Prognoz 3
Spacecraft:  SO-M
Numbers: 1973 payload #10 ; 1973-009A ; 1796th spacecraft.
Type: Earth-space studies
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 15 February 1973 at 1h12 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M / SOL).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 549
Spacecraft:  Tselina-O
Numbers: 1973 payload #11 ; 1973-010A ; 1797th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 28 February 1973 at 4h33 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M Yu149-45).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 550
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #12 ; 1973-011A ; 1798th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 1st March 1973 at 12h43 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 551
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #13 ; 1973-012A ; 1799th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 6 March 1973 at 9h21 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Ryolite RH-1
Spacecraft:  AFP-720
Numbers: 1973 payload #14 ; 1973-013A ; 1800th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 6 March 1973 at 9h30 UTC, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base's LC-13, by an Atlas-Agena D (Atlas SLV-3A 5202A / Agena D A 1552).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Big Bird 5 / KH-9 5 HEXAGON
Spacecraft:  OPS 8410
Numbers: 1973 payload #15 ; 1973-014A ; 1801st spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 9 March 1973 at 21h00 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Titan 3D (23D-6)
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Meteor 1-14
Spacecraft:  Meteor-MV
Numbers: 1973 payload #16 ; 1973-015A ; 1802nd spacecraft.
Type: Meteorology
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 20 March 1973 at 11h16 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-1/"Vostok" (8A92M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 552
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #17 ; 1973-016A ; 1803rd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 22 March 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/3, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Nauka
Spacecraft:  [Nauka #14]
Numbers: 1973 payload #18 ; 1973-016C ; 1804th spacecraft.
Type: Science & technology
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 22 March 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/3, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's Master Catalog ; TRW Space Log ;
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Salyut 2
Spacecraft:  Almaz OPS 1
Numbers: 1973 payload #19 ; 1973-017A ; 1805th spacecraft.
Type: Orbital space station (military)
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 3 April 1973 at 9h00 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81L, by a D-1/Proton-K (8K82K 283-01).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Molniya 2-5
Spacecraft:  Molniya 2E
Numbers: 1973 payload #20 ; 1973-018A ; 1806th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 5 April 1973 at 11h16 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Pioneer 11
Spacecraft:  Pioneer G
Numbers: 1973 payload #21 ; 1973-019A ; 1807th spacecraft.
Type: Outer planets probe
Sponsor: NASA

 
Launch: 6 April 1973 at 2h11 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-36B, by an Atlas-Centaur (Atlas SLV-3D AC-30 / Centaur D-1AR 5011D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission: See: NASA Celebrates Four Decades of Plucky Pioneer 11 (April 5, 2013)
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 553
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 55
Numbers: 1973 payload #22 ; 1973-020A ; 1808th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 12 April 1973 at 11h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 554
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #23 ; 1973-021A ; 1809th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 April 1973 at 9h07 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Interkosmos 9 Kopernik-500
Spacecraft:  DS-U2-IK Kopernik-500
Numbers: 1973 payload #24 ; 1973-022A ; 1810th spacecraft.
Type: Earth upper atmosphere studies (civil)
Sponsor: Soviet Union + East European countries
Launch: 19 April 1973 at 10h20 UTC, from Kapustin Yar Cosmodrome's LC-86/4, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Telesat 2 / Anik 2
Spacecraft:  Anik A2 / Anik-B
Numbers: 1973 payload #25 ; 1973-023A ; 1811th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Canada
Launch: 20 April 1973 at 23h47 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-17B, by a Delta 1914 (Delta 1914 583 / Delta 94).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos
Spacecraft:  US-A
Numbers: 1973 payload #26 ; 1973 1st loss ; 1812th spacecraft.
Type: Ocean surveillance ("RORSAT")
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 April 1973 at 9h10 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-90, by a F-1/Tsyklon 2.
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 555
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #27 ; 1973-024A ; 1813th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 April 1973 at 10h48 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmdrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Nauka
Spacecraft:  [Nauka #15]
Numbers: 1973 payload #28 ; 1973-024D ; 1814th spacecraft.
Type: Science & technology
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 April 1973 at 10h48 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmdrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's Master Catalog ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 556
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #29 ; 1973-025A ; 1815th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 5 May 1973 at 6h57 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 557 (Salyut)
Spacecraft:  DOS 3 / 17K No. 123
Numbers: 1973 payload #30 ; 1973-026A ; 1816th spacecraft.
Type: Orbital space station (civil)
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 11 May 1973 at 0h20 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81L, by a D-1/Proton-K (8K82K 284-01).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ; Jonathan Space Report No. 430 ;
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Skylab 1 
Spacecraft: 
Numbers: 1973 payload #31 ; 1973-027A ; 1817th spacecraft.
Type: Orbital space station
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 14 May 1973 at 17h30 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-39A, by a Saturn V (SA-513).
Orbit: Circular at 435 km.
Decayed:
Mission: Skylab 1, the unmanned Orbital Workshop (OWS), was the first (an only) American orbital station.  The cras was severly damade during the launch, bur repaired the two visiting crews.
     An unexpected telemetry indication of meteoroid shield deployment and solar array wing 2 beam fairing separation was received 1 minute and 3 seconds after liftoff. However, all other systems of the OWS appeared normal, and the stationOWS was inserted into a near-circular Earth orbit. The payload shroud was jettisoned, and the ATM with its solar array was deployed as planned during the first orbit. Deployment of the Workshop solar array and the meteoroid shield was not successful. Solar array wing 1 was released, but there were indications that the wing had not fully deployed. Wing 2 was inoperative or had encountered structural failure. Temperature excursions in the OWS showed that the meteoroid shield was not affecting the temperatures as intended. The remainder of the planned Workshop system activation and deployment functions occurred as scheduled.
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; Skylab: A Chronology  May 14, 1973 ; 
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Titan Samos 38 / KH-8 38 GAMBIT
Spacecraft:  OPS 2093
Numbers: 1973 payload #32 ; 1973-028A ; 1818th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 16 May 1973 at 16h40 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4W, by a Titan 3B (3B-41 (24B-7) / Agena D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission: Following Skylab 1 damage at launch on 14 May 1973, NRO proposed that a GAMBIT spacecraft planned to be launched on May 16 be used to take a photograph of it to assist NASA in planning a repair mission. (This meant that the first phase of the GAMBIT’s photographic mission would have to be cut short in order to return the photos earlier so they could be used for planning the repair mission.) According to one person who saw the photograph, the Skylab was only a small spot in the frame. It was also slightly blurry but still identifiable, and the photography was apparently still useable for NASA’s rescue mission. The mission contributed to the rescue of a billion-dollar space project, and demonstrated that not even Soviet satellites could hide from the prying eyes of American spysats.
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ; Space Review's 12 Jan 09 ;
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Kosmos 558
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 65
Numbers: 1973 payload #33 ; 1973-029A ; 1819th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 17 May 1973 at 13h20 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 559
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #34 ; 1973-030A ; 1820th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 18 May 1973 at 11h02 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/3, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511U).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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D-5A Pollux
Spacecraft: 
Numbers: 1973 payload #35 ; 1973 2nd loss ; 1821th spacecraft.
Type: Technology
Sponsor: France
Launch: 21 May 1973 at 8h47 UTC, from Kourou Space Center's ELD, by a Diamant B (No. 5).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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D-5B Castor
Spacecraft: 
Numbers: 1973 payload #36 ; 1973 3rd loss ; 1822th spacecraft.
Type: Technology
Sponsor: France
Launch: 21 May 1973 at 8h47 UTC, from Kourou Space Center's ELD, by a Diamant B (No. 5).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos 560
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #37 ; 1973-031A ; 1823th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 23 May 1973 at 10h33 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Kosmos
Spacecraft:  Tsiklon
Numbers: 1973 payload #38 ; 1973 4th loss ; 1824th spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 May 1973 at 9h15 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 65024-109).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
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Skylab 2
Spacecraft:  Apollo CSM-116
Numbers: 1973 payload #39 ; 1973-032A ; 1825th spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 25 May 1973 at 13h00 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-39B, by a Saturn IB (SA-206).
Orbit: Initial : 357 km x 156 km 
Four orbital maneuvers later: 424 km x 415 km 
Recovered: 22 June 1973 at 13h49 UTC
Mission: Skylab 2 was the first piloted mission of the Skylab programme. Mission objectives were to establish the station in Earth orbit, obtain medical data on the crew for use in extending the duration of manned space flight and perform inflight experiments.
    Upton arrival to the station, the crew provided a verbal description of the damage in conjunction: the solar array wing 2 was completely missing and wing 1 was slightly deployed but restrained by a fragment of the meteoroid shield. Large sections of the meteoroid shield were missing. 
     Following the flyaround inspection, Apollo soft-docked with Skylab on 25 May at 17h56 EDT, to plan the next activities. At 18h45, it undocked and an EVA was initiated to deploy the beam 1 solar array. The attempt failed. Frustration of the crew was compounded when eight attempts were required to achieve hard-docking, which was finally made at 23h50 EDT.
     The second flightday (26 May) was focused on entry into Skylab (at 15h30 EDT) and deployment of the parasol.  The atmosphere, although hot, was habitable, and the astronauts was able to work in the environment for 10- to 15-minute intervals. At 17h00. they began deployment of the parasol which provided thermal shielding for the area of the Workshop exposed to the Sun because of the missing meteoroid shield.  Deployment was accomplished through the solar scientific airlock by attaching the extension rods to the mast. The parasol was retracted to its final position a few centimeters above the OWS outer surface. The task was completed at 19h30. Inside temperatures started dropping immediately upon parasol deployment; temperatures were below 38 °C within a day of deployment. The temperature continued a steady decline until stabilization was reached somewhat below 24 °C.
     On the third day, the crew began to transfer and store equipment and activate experiments. On 29 May, everything in Skylab was turned on for the first time. On 7 June, Conrad and Kerwin performed a 3h25 EVA to free the undeployed solar array. At 14:01 EDT, the strap restraining the solar wing was severed, the beam was fully deployed and the three panels had begun to deploy. By 20h55, all the solar array sections were deployed, and the Skylab power crisis had abated. On 18 June at 3:22 EDT, the crew broke the space flight record of 570 hours 23 minutes set by the Soyuz 11 flight in June 1971.
     During the SL-1/SL-2 mission, the following experiments were conducted : sll medical experiments were successfully conducted with a completion range of 80 to 100 percent; 82 hours of manned viewing time and 154 hours of ground commanded data gathering were accomplished wiht the telescope in the Apollo Telescope Mount; EREP-11 passes with a full range of instrument operation and task site assignments were completed. (Prelaunch planning called for 14 passes.);  56 hours of crew time were devoted to Corollary experiments. (Prelaunch planning called for 64 hours.) 
     The Skylab 2 capsule splashed down on 22 June in the Pacific Ocean, 9.6 km from the recovery ship U.S.S. Ticonderoga and 1,320 km southwest of San Diego. At 10h28, the crew and spacecraft were aboard the ship .
      Primary Skylab 2 mission objectives were accomplished, and a majority of the assigned experiment objectives were complete. The flight demonstrated the advantage of having man on board a space vehicles. It also demonstrated that for long-term manned and unmanned space flight, provisions needed to be made for unforeseen inflight repair and maintenance in the form of accessibility, handholds, tools, facilities, materials, and hardware appropriate for interior and exterior operation. There were no operationally significant physical or psychological health problems associated with the space vehicle environment for the 28-day visit. There were no findings that would preclude longer duration visits.
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ;  Skylab: A Chronology May 25 to June 22, 1973; 
.
Kosmos 561
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #40 ; 1973-033A ; 1826th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 May 1973 at 13h40 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Nauka
Spacecraft:  [Nauka #16]
Numbers: 1973 payload #41 ; 1973-033D ; 1827th spacecraft.
Type: Science & technology
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 May 1973 at 13h40 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's Master Catalog ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Meteor 1-15
Spacecraft:  Meteor-MV
Numbers: 1973 payload #42 ; 1973-034A ; 1828th spacecraft.
Type: Meteorology
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 29 May 1973 at 10h19 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-1/"Vostok" (8A92M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 562
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 66
Numbers: 1973 payload #43 ; 1973-035A ; 1829th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 5 June 1973 at 11h30 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 563
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #44 ; 1973-036A ; 1830th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 6 June 1973 at 11h31 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 564
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #45 ; 1973-037A ; 1831st spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 565
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #46 ; 1973-037B ; 1832nd spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 566
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #47 ; 1973-037C ; 1833rd spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 567
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #48 ; 1973-037D ; 1834th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 568
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #49 ; 1973-037E ; 1835th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 569
Spacecraft: Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #50 ; 1973-037F ; 1836th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 570
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #51 ; 1973-037G ; 1837th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 571
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #52 ; 1973-037H ; 1838th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 8 June 1973 at 15h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-210).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 572
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #53 ; 1973-038A ; 1839th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 10 June 1973 at 10h19 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Explorer 49 / RAE-B
Spacecraft:  Radio Astronomy Explorer
Numbers: 1973 payload #54 ; 1973-039A ; 1840th spacecraft.
Type: Astronomy
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 10 June 1973 at 14h13 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-17B, by a Delta 1914 (Delta 1913 581 / Delta 95).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Notes: On 25 January 1965, NASA announced two Radio Astronomy Explorer satellites (RAE-A and RAE-B) would be designed to investigate low-frequency (long wavelength) emissions from our galaxy, its planets, and the stars. These emissions are mostly intercepted by the ionosphere so that little can be learned about them from ground-based receivers. This would be the first attempt to map the galaxy for low-frequency emissions. The 90-kg spacecraft would be launched by Thrust-Augmented Delta into circular orbits at altitudes of about 6,000 km and would measure the intensity of the signals, their frequency, times of emission and, within limitations, define the regions of space in which they originated. Proposed designs called for the development of two 225-m V-shaped antennas that would be mounted opposite each other, forming a giant X. They would be anchored to the basic spacecraft, a cylinder of about 1 metre, capped by two truncated cones. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center would design, integrate, and test the two spacecraft. First launch was not expected before 1967.
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; Astronautics and Aeronautics 1965, p. 30 ; TRW Space Log ;
.
IMEWS 4 / DSP 2
Spacecraft:  DSP F4
Numbers: 1973 payload #55 ; 1973-040A ; 1841st spacecraft.
Type: Missile early warning
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force

Source: A. Parsch
Launch: 12 June 1973 at 7h14 UTC, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base's LC-40, by a Titan 3C (23C-6).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ; DSP, A Pictorial ;
.
Kosmos 573
Spacecraft:  Soyuz 7K-T No. 35
Numbers: 1973 payload #56 ; 1973-041A ; 1842nd spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft test
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 15 June 1973 at 6h00 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 574
Spacecraft:  Tsiklon
Numbers: 1973 payload #57 ; 1973-042A ; 1843rd spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 20 June 1973 at 6h14 UTC, from Plesetsk's Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-116).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 575
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #58 ; 1973-043A ; 1844th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 21 June 1973 at 13h26 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos
Spacecraft:  Tselina-O
Numbers: 1973 payload #59 ; 1973 5th loss ; 1845th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 26 June 1973 at 1h22 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M Yu47121-16).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Titan Samos 39 / KH-8 39 GAMBIT
Spacecraft:  OPS 4018
Numbers: 1973 payload #60 ; 1973 6th loss ; 1846th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 26 June 1973 at 17h00 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4W, by a Titan 3B (3B-43 (24B-9) / Agena D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 576
Spacecraft: Zenit-4MT (Orion)
Numbers: 1973 payload #61 ; 1973-044A ; 1847th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 27 June 1973 at 12h00 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #62 ; 1973 7th loss ; 1848th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 4 July 1973 at 11h00 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 2-6
Spacecraft:  Molniya 2F
Numbers: 1973 payload #63 ; 1973-045A ; 1849th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 11 July 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Big Bird 6 / KH-9 6 HEXAGON
Spacecraft:  OPS 8261
Numbers: 1973 payload #64 ; 1973-046A ; 1850th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 13 July 1973 at 20h24 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Titan 3D (23D-7).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
NOAA
Spacecraft:  ITOS E
Numbers: 1973 payload #65 ; 1973 8th loss ; 1851st spacecraft.
Type: Meteorology
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 16 July 1973 at 17h10 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-2W, by a Delta 100 (Delta 0300 578 / Delta 96).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Mars 4
Spacecraft:  3MS No. 52S
Numbers: 1973 payload #66 ; 1973-047A ; 1852nd spacecraft.
Type: Mars probe
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 21 July 1973 at 19h30 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81L, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 261-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 577
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #67 ; 1973-048A ; 1853rd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 25 July 1973 at 11h31 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Mars 5
Spacecraft:  3MS No. 53S
Numbers: 1973 payload #68 ; 1973-049A ; 1854th spacecraft.
Type: Mars probe
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 25 July 1973 at 18h55 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81P, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 262-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Skylab 3
Spacecraft:  Apollo CSM-117
Numbers: 1973 payload #69 ; 1973-050A ; 1855th spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 28 July 1973 at 11h10 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-39B, by a Saturn IB (SA-207).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 578
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #70 ; 1973-051A ; 1856th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 1st August 1973 at 14h09 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Mars 6
Spacecraft:  3MP No. 50P
Numbers: 1973 payload #71 ; 1973-052A ; 1857th spacecraft.
Type: Mars probe
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 5 August 1973 at 17h45 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81L, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 281-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Mars 7
Spacecraft: 3MP No. 51P
Numbers: 1973 payload #72 ; 1973-053A ; 1858th spacecraft.
Type: Mars probe
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 9 August 1973 at 17h00 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81P, by a D-1-e/Proton-K/D (8K82K 281-01 / 11S824).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
DMSP 4 / DMSP Block-5B F4
Spacecraft:  DMSP 7529
Numbers: 1973 payload #73 ; 1973-054A ; 1859th spacecraft.
Type: Meteorology
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 17 August 1973 at 4h49 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-10W, by a Thor-Burner 2A (291).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 579
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #74 ; 1973-055A ; 1860th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 21 August 1973 at 12h28 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
SDS 2 / Jumpseat 3
Spacecraft:  OPS 7724
Numbers: 1973 payload #75 ; 1973-056A ; 1861st spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 21 August 1973 at 16h07 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4W, by a Titan 33B (3B-38 (33B-3) / Ascent Agena D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 580
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 59
Numbers: 1973 payload #76 ; 1973-057A ; 1862nd spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 22 August 1973 at 11h25 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Intelsat 4G
Spacecraft: Intelsat IV F-7
Numbers: 1973 payload #77 ; 1973-058A ; 1863rd spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Intelsat
Launch: 23 August 1973 at 22h57 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-36A, by a Atlas-Centaur (Atlas SLV-3D AC-31 / Centaur D-1AR 5010D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 581
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #78 ; 1973-059A ; 1864th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 24 August 1973 at 11h16 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 582
Spacecraft:  Tselina-O
Numbers: 1973 payload #79 ; 1973-060A ; 1865th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 28 August 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 65033-201).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 1-24
Spacecraft:  Molniya 1Z
Numbers: 1973 payload #80 ; 1973-061A ; 1866th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 30 August 1973 at 0h14 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome 's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 583
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #81 ; 1973-062A ; 1867th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 30 August 1973 at 10h33 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 584
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #82 ; 1973-063A ; 1868th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 6 September 1973 at 10h48 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 585
Spacecraft:  Sfera
Numbers: 1973 payload #83 ; 1973-064A ; 1869th spacecraft.
Type: Geodesy
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 8 September 1973 at 1h40 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 60527-114).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 586
Spacecraft:  Tsiklon
Numbers: 1973 payload #84 ; 1973-065A ; 1870th spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 14 September 1973 at 0h28 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53714-106).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
JSSW 1
Spacecraft: 
Numbers: 1973 payload #85 ; 1973 9th loss ; 1871st spacecraft.
Type: Technology?
Sponsor: China
Launch: 18 September 1973, from Jiuquan LA-2, by a Feng Bao 1 (FB1-2).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 587
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #86 ; 1973-066A ; 1872nd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 21 September 1973 at 13h12 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/3, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511U).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Soyuz 12
Spacecraft:  Soyuz 7K-T No. 36
Numbers: 1973 payload #87 ; 1973-067A ; 1873rd spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 27 September 1973 at 12h18 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1?, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Titan Samos 40 / KH-8 40 GAMBIT
Spacecraft:  OPS 6275
Numbers: 1973 payload #88 ; 1973-068A ; 1874th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 27 September 1973 at 17h15 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4W, by a Titan 3B (3B-42 (24B-8) / Agena D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 588
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #89 ; 1973-069A ; 1875th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 589
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #90 ; 1973-069B ; 1876th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 590
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #91 ; 1973-069C ; 1877th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 591
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #92 ; 1973-069D ; 1878th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 592
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #93 ; 1973-069E ; 1879th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 593
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #94 ; 1973-069F ; 1880th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 594
Spacecraft:  Strala-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #95 ; 1973-069G ; 1881st spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 595
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #96 ; 1973-069H ; 1882nd spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 21h50 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-115).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 596
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #97 ; 1973-070A ; 1883rd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 3 October 1973 at 12h57 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 597
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #98 ; 1973-071A ; 1884th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 6 October 1973 at 12h28 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 598
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #99 ; 1973-072A ; 1885th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 10 October 1973 at 10h48 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 599
Spacecraft:  Zenit-2M
Numbers: 1973 payload #100 ; 1973-073A ; 1886th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 15 October 1973 at 8h52 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 600
Spacecraft: Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #101 ; 1973-074A ; 1887th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 16 October 1973 at 12h14 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 601
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 60
Numbers: 1973 payload #102 ; 1973-075A ; 1888th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 16 October 1973 at 14h00 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 2-7
Spacecraft:  Molniya 2G
Numbers: 1973 payload #103 ; 1973-076A ; 1889th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 19 October 1973 at 10h33 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 602
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #104 ; 1973-077A ; 1890th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 20 October 1973 at 10h19 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Explorer 50 / IMP 8 
Spacecraft:  IMP J
Numbers: 1973 payload #105 ; 1973-078A ; 1891st spacecraft.
Type: Space environment studies
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 26 October 1973 at 2h26 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-17B, by a Delta 1600 (Delta 1604 582 / Delta 97).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 603
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #106 ; 1973-079A ; 1892nd spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 27 October 1973 at 11h16 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 604
Spacecraft:  Tselina-D
Numbers: 1973 payload #107 ; 1973-080A ; 1893rd spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 29 October 1973 at 14h09 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-1/"Vostok" (8A92M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Transit O-20 / NNS O-20
Spacecraft: 
Numbers: 1973 payload #108 ; 1973-081A ; 1894th spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: U.S. Navy
Launch: 30 October 1973 at 0h37 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-5, by a Scout A-1 (S178C).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Interkosmos 10
Spacecraft:  DS-U2-IK No. 3
Numbers: 1973 payload #109 ; 1973-082A ; 1895th spacecraft.
Type: Earth/space studies (civil)
Sponsor: Soviet Union + East European countries
Launch: 30 October 1973 at 19h00 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132/2, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53749-158).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 605
Spacecraft:  Bion No. 1 / Biocosmos 1
Numbers: 1973 payload #110 ; 1973-083A ; 1896th spacecraft.
Type: Biology
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 31 October 1973 18:25 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/3, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511U).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 606
Spacecraft:  Oko
Numbers: 1973 payload #111 ; 1973-084A ; 1897th spacecraft.
Type: Missile early warning
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 2 November 1973 at 13h02 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Mariner 10
Spacecraft:  Mariner 73J / Mariner Venus/Mercury 73
Numbers: 1973 payload #112 ; 1973-085A ; 1898th spacecraft.
Type: Mercury probe
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 3 November 1973 at 5h45 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-36B, by an Atlas-Centaur (Atlas SLV-3D AC-34 / Centaur D-1AR 5014D).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
NOAA 3
Spacecraft:  ITOS F
Numbers: 1973 payload #113 ; 1973-086A ; 1899th spacecraft.
Type: Meteorology
Sponsor: NOAA
Launch: 6 November 1973 at 17h02 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-2W, by a Delta 300 (Delta 0300 576 / Delta 98).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 607
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #114 ; 1973-087A ; 1900th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 10 November 1973 at 12h43 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Big Bird 7 / KH-9 7 HEXAGON
Spacecraft:  OPS 6630
Numbers: 1973 payload #115 ; 1973-088A ; 1901st spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Launch: 10 November 1973 at 20h09 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Titan 3D (23D-8).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Hitchhiker 33
Spacecraft:  OPS 7705 / SS B 24
Numbers: 1973 payload #116 ; 1973-088B ; 1902nd spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 10 November 1973 at 20h09 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Titan 3D (23D-8).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Hitchhiker 34
Spacecraft:  OPS 6630 P/L 2 / SS C 4
Numbers: 1973 payload #117 ; 1973-088C ; 1903rd spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 10 November 1973 at 20h09 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Titan 3D (23D-8).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 1-25
Spacecraft:  Molniya 1ZA
Numbers: 1973 payload #118 ; 1973-089A ; 1904th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 14 November 1973 at 20h38 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Skylab 4
Spacecraft:  CSM-118
Numbers: 1973 payload #119 ; 1973-090A ; 1905th spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 16 November 1973 at 14h01 UTC, from Cape Canaveral's LC-39B, by a Saturn IB (SA-208).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 608
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 69
Numbers: 1973 payload #120 ; 1973-091A ; 1906th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 20 November 1973 at 12h30 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 609
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4M
Numbers: 1973 payload #121 ; 1973-092A ; 1907th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 21 November 1973 at 10h04 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 610
Spacecraft:  Tselina-O
Numbers: 1973 payload #122 ; 1973-093A ; 1908th spacecraft.
Type: Electronic intelligence
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 27 November 1973 at 0h14 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-114).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 611
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-Yu No. 64
Numbers: 1973 payload #123 ; 1973-094A ; 1909th spacecraft.
Type: Military technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 28 November 1973 at 9h30 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1 (11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 612
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #124 ; 1973-095A ; 1910th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 28 November 1973 at 11h44 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 613
Spacecraft:  Soyuz 7K-T No. 34L
Numbers: 1973 payload #125 ; 1973-096A ; 1911th spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft test
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 30 November 1973 at 5h20 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 1-26
Spacecraft:  Molniya 1ZB
Numbers: 1973 payload #126 ; 1973-097A ; 1912th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 30 November 1973 at 13h12 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 614
Spacecraft:  Strela-2
Numbers: 1973 payload #127 ; 1973-098A ; 1913th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 4 December 1973 at 15h07 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53753-211).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 615
Spacecraft:  DS-P1-I No. 13
Numbers: 1973 payload #128 ; 1973-099A ; 1914th spacecraft.
Type: Antimissile technologies
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 12 December 1973 at 11h10 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/1, by a Kosmos B-1(11K63).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
DSCS 2-3
Spacecraft:  OPS 9433 / DSCS II F-3 / DSCS II B-3
Numbers: 1973 payload #129 ; 1973-100A ; 1915th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 13 December 1973 at 23h57 UTC, from Cape Canaveral Air Forbe Base's LC-40, by a Titan 3C (23C-8, Transtage-26).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission: Retired in 1982?
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ; Jonathan Space Report No. 495 ;
.
DSCS 2-4
Spacecraft:  OPS 9434 / DSCS II F-4 / DSCS II B-4
Numbers: 1973 payload #130 ; 1973-100B ; 1916th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: U.S. Air Force
Launch: 13 December 1973 at 23h57 UTC, from Cape Canaveral Air Forbe Base's LC-40, by a Titan 3C (23C-8, Transtage-26).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission: Retired on 17 December 1993.
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ; Jonathan Space Report No. 495 ;
.
Explorer 51 / AE-C
Spacecraft:  Atmosphere Explorer-C
Numbers: 1973 payload #128 ; 1973-101A ; 1917th spacecraft.
Type: Earth upper atmosphere studies
Sponsor: NASA
Launch: 16 December 1973 at 6h18 UTC, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-2W, by a Delta 1914 (Delta 1900 585 / Delta 99).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 616
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MT (Orion)
Numbers: 1973 payload #132 ; 1973-102A ; 1918th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 17 December 1973 at 12h00 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Soyuz 13
Spacecraft:  Soyuz 7K-T No. 33A
Numbers: 1973 payload #133 ; 1973-103A ; 1919th spacecraft.
Type: Piloted spacecraft
Sponsor: Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau)
Launch: 18 December 1973 at 11h55 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by an A-2/Soyuz (11A511).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 617
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #134 ; 1973-104A ; 1920th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 618
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #135 ; 1973-104B ; 1921st spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 619
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #136 ; 1973-104C ; 1922nd spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 620
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #137 ; 1973-104D ; 1923rd spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 621
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #138 ; 1973-104E ; 1924th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 622
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #139 ; 1973-104F; 1925th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 623
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #140 ; 1973-104G ; 1926th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 624
Spacecraft:  Strela-1M
Numbers: 1973 payload #141 ; 1973-104H ; 1927th spacecraft.
Type: Communications (store/dump)
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 19 December 1973 at 9h36 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 53724-112).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 625
Spacecraft:  Zenit-4MK
Numbers: 1973 payload #142 ; 1973-105A ; 1928th spacecraft.
Type: Reconnaissance
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 21 December 1973 at 12h28 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmdorome's LC-43/4, by an A-2/"Voskhod" (11A57).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Molniya 2-8
Spacecraft:  Molniya 2H
Numbers: 1973 payload #143 ; 1973-106A ; 1929th spacecraft.
Type: Communications
Sponsor: Soviet Union
Launch: 25 December 1973 at 11h16 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-41/1, by an A-2-e/"Molniya" (8K78M).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Oreol 2 (Aureole 2)
Spacecraft:  DS-U2-GKA No. 2
Numbers: 1973 payload #144 ; 1973-107A ; 1930th spacecraft.
Type: Earth upper atmosphere studies
Sponsor: France
Launch: 26 December 1973 at 16h30 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132/2, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 65024-111).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 626
Spacecraft:  US-A
Numbers: 1973 payload #145 ; 1973-108A ; 1931st spacecraft.
Type: Ocean surveillance ("RORSAT")
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 27 December 1973 at 20h24 UTC, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-90, by a F-1/Tsyklon 2.
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
Kosmos 627
Spacecraft:  Tsiklon
Numbers: 1973 payload #146 ; 1973-109A ; 1932nd spacecraft.
Type: Navigation
Sponsor: Soviet Union's Defense ministry
Launch: 29 December 1973 at 4h04 UTC, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-132, by a Kosmos C-1 (11K65M 65033-204).
Orbit:
Decayed:
Mission:
Source: Jonathan McDowell's Master List ; Mark Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National Space Science Data Center's ; TRW Space Log ;
.
© Claude Lafleur, 2004-10 Mes sites web: claudelafleur.qc.ca