🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
Sfera No. 16L
Retired 1972Sfera No. 16L (NORAD 5614, COSPAR 1971-099A) is a retired SU satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jan 1972, launched on 20 Nov 1971 on the Sfera mission. It was operated by OKB10 as part of the Sfera programme. The spacecraft was built by OAZ on the KAUR-1 11F621 bus, with a mass of 800 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1971
launched
1972
retired
55
years on orbit
800
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched20 Nov 1971 · on the Sfera mission
Operational1 Jan 1972 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 1972 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID5614
COSPAR1971-099A
TypeSatellite
OperatorOKB10
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerOAZ
BusKAUR-1 11F621
Mass800 kg
ProgrammeSfera
CategoryGEOD
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude1,183 × 1,220 km
Inclination74.0°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Sfera No. 16L?
Sfera No. 16L was retired from service around 1 Jan 1972 after launching in 1971. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built Sfera No. 16L?
Sfera No. 16L was operated by OKB10 and built by OAZ (SU).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.