# Prognoz 9

> soviet satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3922755](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3922755)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognoz_9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/prognoz-9

## Summary
Prognoz 9 was a Soviet satellite launched on July 1, 1983, aboard a Molniya-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31. It carried the RELIKT-1 experiment to study the cosmic microwave background radiation, contributing to cosmological research. As part of the Prognoz series, it focused on space physics and astronomy missions.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: July 1, 1983
- **Launch Vehicle**: Molniya-M rocket
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- **COSPAR ID**: 1983-067A
- **Carried Instrument**: RELIKT-1 (cosmic microwave background experiment)
- **Classification**: Artificial satellite
- **SCN Number**: 14163

## FAQs
### Q: When was Prognoz 9 launched?
A: Prognoz 9 was launched on July 1, 1983, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 using a Molniya-M rocket.

### Q: What was the primary mission of Prognoz 9?
A: Its main mission was to carry the RELIKT-1 experiment, which studied the cosmic microwave background radiation to investigate the early universe.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Prognoz 9?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Molniya-M rocket, a Soviet space launcher used for various scientific and military missions.

## Why It Matters
Prognoz 9 holds significance in the history of space-based cosmology as the carrier of the RELIKT-1 experiment, one of the earliest attempts to map the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This research provided critical data to understand the structure and evolution of the universe, complementing later missions like NASA’s COBE. As part of the Soviet Union’s Prognoz satellite series, it exemplified Cold War-era scientific collaboration and competition, advancing humanity’s knowledge of fundamental cosmology. Its mission bridged technological and geopolitical contexts, demonstrating the role of space exploration in driving scientific discovery.

## Notable For
- Carried the RELIKT-1 experiment, a pioneering study of the cosmic microwave background.
- Part of the Prognoz satellite series focused on space physics and astronomy.
- Utilized the Molniya-M rocket, a key Soviet launch vehicle for high-inclination orbits.
- Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a historic Soviet space facility.

## Body
### Launch Details
Prognoz 9 was launched on **July 1, 1983**, at **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31** using a **Molniya-M rocket**. The Molniya-M was a derivative of the R-7 rocket family, designed for payloads requiring highly elliptical orbits.

### Mission Objective
The satellite’s primary mission was to conduct space physics research, with a focus on the **RELIKT-1** experiment. This instrument aimed to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, a remnant of the Big Bang, to study the universe’s large-scale structure and anisotropy.

### Instrumentation
- **RELIKT-1**: A microwave radiometer operating at 31.3 GHz, designed to detect temperature fluctuations in the CMB. Though its sensitivity was limited compared to later missions, it provided early constraints on cosmological models.

### Legacy
Prognoz 9’s RELIKT-1 experiment laid groundwork for subsequent CMB studies, such as COBE (1989) and Planck (2009). While its results were not definitive, the mission demonstrated the feasibility of space-based CMB observations, influencing future experimental design. The satellite is also notable as part of the broader Prognoz program, which included missions studying solar-terrestrial interactions and interplanetary space.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report