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The MKF-6 system comprises six separate cameras of 125 mm focal length, 160 2p/mm 
resolution, and 55 x 81 mm format with appropriate dielectric filters to produce 
multispectral photographs in the range 0.45 to 0.94 um. The camera system employs 
a rocking mount for image motion compensation and is capable of ground resolution 
in the 15 - 20m/%p range. An additive colour viewer and printer MSP-4 has been 
built for use with the MKF-6 photographs. Excellent results can be produced in 
black/white, conventional colour, and colour infrared response. The MKF-6 camera 
system was first used in space aboard the Soyuz-22 spacecraft in September 1976. 
A few frames have been released to the international community. 
The second camera used on Salyut-6 is the KATE-140 mapping camera, which was used 
also on Salyut-4. This has a focal length of 140 mm and an image format of 
18 x 18 cm. From the Salyut-6 altitude this camera should be capable of producing 
about 30m ground resolution and each frame would cover about 335 x 335 km. Both 
the MKF-6 and the mapping camera are controlled from a single console which permits 
simultaneous or separate operation of the two systems. There is some indication in 
the literature that the KATE-140 camera was replaced by the MRB-9/2323. This is 
a standard Zeiss Jena super-wide angle aerial survey camera with a focal length 
of 90 mm and film format 23 x 23 cm. 
Exposed film is collected and fresh film is supplied to Salyut by the Progress 
and Soyuz vehicles which transfer cosmonaut crews. Film is processed at the 
Priroda (Nature) State Center of USSR Council of Ministers Central Administration 
of Geodesy and Cartography. Salyut-6 acquired (January 1981) more than 50,000 
photographs covering 48.6 million km“, 
During the growing season, May to October, for the last several years, a number 
of missions in the Cosmos series have been designated as Earth resources obser- 
vation spacecraft. Typically they are launched into an orbit at 81-829 incli- 
nation and 220-270 km altitude. The spacecraft are recovered after 15 - 30 days 
operation. Most probably the primary sensor system is the MKF-6 camera.  Cosmos- 
1076 in February 1979 was identified as an ocean resources mission, but the sensor 
payload was not disclosed. 
In June 1980, the USSR launched one of the Meteor weather satellites into a 
589 x 678 km orbit at 989 inclination. In addition to the operational meteoro- 
logical sensors, MSU-S and MSU-M which provide low resolution data, this space- 
craft carried three experimental Earth observation sensors. The MSU-E uses charge 
coupled (CCD) sensors to produce three spectral bands between 0.5 and 1.0 um, a 30m 
instantaneous field of view (IFOV), and a 30 km swath. The MSU-SK optical-mechanical 
scanner has four spectral bands between 0.5 and 1.0 um, a 170m IFOV and a 600 km swath. 
The third instrument, identified as "Fragment" is also an optical-mechanical scanner 
with eight spectral bands between 0.4 and 2.4 um, 80m IFOV and 85 km swath. Data 
from the MSU-E and MSU-SK are transmitted digitally to a receiving station in 
Obninsk; data from "Fragment" are transmitted digitally to a receiving station at 
the Moscow Institute of Power Engineering. 
A second Meteor Earth observation spacecraft was launched into a similar orbit in 
July 1981. Its sensors were identified as a multispectral scanning television 
system, and a three channel microwave radiometer. Also carried were a Bulgarian 
single channel microwave radiometer, and a visible and near infrared spectrometer. 
The USSR enters into bilateral agreements with other nations to acquire Earth re- 
sources information, but does not make open dissemination of data acquired over 
other nations. Available documents state that extensive topographic and thematic 
mapping at 1:100,000 scale has been accomplished. The USSR has announced its in- 
tention to build permanent manned space stations, one of whose purposes would be 
Earth resources observation. As a first step towards this objective, in summer 
1981 Salyut-6 was raised to a 400 km orbit where an automated docking was per- 
formed with Cosmos-1267. It is possible that Salyut-7 is the second step towards 
this objective since it is equipped with multiple docking ports. The USSR is 
also developing a winged reuseable manned spacecraft to support space station 
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