Today, August 18, 2020, the Academician MF Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) will celebrate the 56th anniversary of the launch of the Kosmos-3 launch vehicle. The launch, which took place on August 18, 1964, marked the beginning of the space history of the Reshetnev enterprise, a leading domestic developer and manufacturer of automatic spacecraft.

Launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome, the Kosmos-3 launch vehicle launched three experimental Strela-1 communications spacecraft into near-earth orbit – these were the first satellites created by specialists under the leadership of Mikhail Reshetnev. Having confirmed their professionalism by the successful launch, the OKB-10 (now ISS) team has firmly taken positions in the implementation of space projects.

The Kosmos-3 rocket was created by the Reshetnevites to launch small satellites into low earth orbits in the interests of the country’s socio-economic development. In total, fourteen launches of this carrier were made, after which the first Reshetnev rocket was replaced by its modernized version, also created by OKB-10 and recognized by the world community as the best in its class. This launch also marked the beginning of the development of satellite-building topics in the Reshetnevskaya firm, which today accounts for two-thirds of the Russian orbital group.

In honor of the significant date, the ISS company organizes a number of events, the main of which will be a solemn meeting near the monument to the founder and first head of the enterprise, Mikhail Reshetnev, to honor the veterans who participated in the memorable event.