🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
Meteor (M) No. 39L
Retired 1978Meteor (M) No. 39L (NORAD 9903, COSPAR 1977-024A) is a retired SU satellite, withdrawn from service around 2 Jan 1978, launched on 5 Apr 1977 on the Meteor-M No. 39 mission.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.
1977
launched
1978
retired
49
years on orbit
1,280
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched5 Apr 1977 · on the Meteor-M No. 39 mission
Operational2 Jan 1978 · entered service
Retired2 Jan 1978 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID9903
COSPAR1977-024A
TypeSatellite
OperatorGUKOSR / GMS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerVNIEM
BusMeteor
Mass1,280 kg
ProgrammeMeteor C
CategoryMET
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude846 × 891 km
Inclination81.3°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Meteor (M) No. 39L?
Meteor (M) No. 39L was retired from service around 2 Jan 1978 after launching in 1977. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built Meteor (M) No. 39L?
Meteor (M) No. 39L 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.