Parus (Russian: Парус meaning Sail), also Tsyklon-B or Tsiklon-B (Russian: Циклон-Б meaning Cyclone-B) and Tsikada-M (Russian: Цикада-М meaning Cicada-M),[1]GRAU index 11F627, was a Russian, previously Soviet satellite constellation used for communication and navigation. As of 2010, 99 Parus satellites had been launched, starting with Kosmos 700 in 1974.[2] All launches had been conducted using Kosmos-3M carrier rockets, flying from sites 132 and 133 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[3]
Parus satellites were produced by JSC Information Satellite Systems (formerly NPO PM), based on the KAUR-1satellite bus. They had a mass of around 825 kilograms (1,819 lb), and a design life of 18–24 months.[1] The satellites operated in low Earth orbits, typically with a perigee of about 950 kilometres (590 mi), an apogee of 1,005 kilometres (624 mi) and 82.9° inclination.[2] They were operated by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, and were used primarily for navigation, Store and forward communication, and to relay data from US-P satellites.[2] Some of the navigation functions are believed to have been superseded by the GLONASS system.[2]
