🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
Meteor (MV) No. 26L
Retired 1973Meteor (MV) No. 26L (NORAD 6079, COSPAR 1972-049A) is a retired SU satellite, withdrawn from service around 25 May 1973, launched on 30 Jun 1972 on the Meteor-MV No. 26 mission. It was operated by GUKOSR / GMS as part of the Meteor C programme. The spacecraft was built by VNIEM on the Meteor bus, with a mass of 1,280 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1972
launched
1973
retired
54
years on orbit
1,280
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched30 Jun 1972 · on the Meteor-MV No. 26 mission
Operational25 May 1973 · entered service
Retired25 May 1973 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID6079
COSPAR1972-049A
TypeSatellite
OperatorGUKOSR / GMS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerVNIEM
BusMeteor
Mass1,280 kg
ProgrammeMeteor C
CategoryMET
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude888 × 902 km
Inclination81.2°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Meteor (MV) No. 26L?
Meteor (MV) No. 26L was retired from service around 25 May 1973 after launching in 1972. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built Meteor (MV) No. 26L?
Meteor (MV) No. 26L was operated by GUKOSR / GMS and built by VNIEM (SU).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.