Name: US-PM 8 — Tsiklon-2
Start: 1996-12-11T12:00:00Z
End: 1996-12-11T12:00:00Z
Location: 90/19

Question 1

What rocket is launching US-PM 8?

Accepted Answer

US-PM 8 is launching on the Tsiklon-2.

Question 2

Who is launching US-PM 8?

Accepted Answer

US-PM 8 is being launched by Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), a government launch provider founded in 1992.

Question 3

Where is US-PM 8 launching from?

Accepted Answer

US-PM 8 is launching from 90/19 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.

Question 4

What orbit is US-PM 8 heading to?

Accepted Answer

US-PM 8 is heading to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Question 5

Is the Tsiklon-2 reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Tsiklon-2 is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Tsiklon-2 flown?

Accepted Answer

The Tsiklon-2 has launched 105 times to date, with 103 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the US-PM 8 mission?

Accepted Answer

US-PM (Upravlenniye Sputnik Passivny Modifikirovanny) (also reported as US-PU) was a solar powered improved EORSAT (Electronic Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite). It used an passive ELINT devices to track naval vessels from space by registering their electronic emmissions.

Question 8

Where is the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur Cosmodrome is in Kazakhstan and is the world's first and largest operational spaceport, founded in 1955. Russia's Roscosmos operates it on territory leased from Kazakhstan under an agreement running to 2050.

Question 9

What launches from Baikonur?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur remains a major hub for Russian crewed and uncrewed missions, with Soyuz rockets flying from active pads such as Site 31/6. The historic 'Gagarin's Start' (Site 1/5) has been retired from regular service.

Question 10

Why is Baikonur historically important?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur launched both the first satellite, Sputnik 1 in 1957, and the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1 in 1961 — the two events that opened the Space Age.

Question 11

Can you visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur is a restricted military and space facility in a remote part of Kazakhstan, with no casual public viewing. Visits are possible only through pre-arranged official or specialist tours with advance permits, usually timed around a launch.

US-PM 8

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

90/19

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Frequently asked questions