🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
Geoid No. 20L
Retired 1975Geoid No. 20L (NORAD 7281, COSPAR 1974-028A) is a retired SU satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jan 1975, launched on 29 Apr 1974 on the Geoid mission. It was operated by VTS as part of the Sfera programme. The spacecraft was built by OKB10 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.
1974
launched
1975
retired
52
years on orbit
800
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched29 Apr 1974 · on the Geoid mission
Operational1 Jan 1975 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 1975 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID7281
COSPAR1974-028A
TypeSatellite
OperatorVTS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerOKB10
BusKAUR-1 11F621
Mass800 kg
ProgrammeSfera
CategoryGEOD
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude1,368 × 1,401 km
Inclination74.0°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Geoid No. 20L?
Geoid No. 20L was retired from service around 1 Jan 1975 after launching in 1974. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built Geoid No. 20L?
Geoid No. 20L was operated by VTS and built by OKB10 (SU).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.