SPECIAL CONSTRUCTIONS

Sun reflectors in the framework of the program of complex space experiments Znamya.

Works under the project commenced in 1980. Numerous major research institutes and design offices of the USSR and Russia took part in preparation and conduct of various phases of the experiment.

In February 1993, Russia staged an unusual demo experiment codenamed Znamya-2: after the Progress M-15 cargo spacecraft undocked from the Mir space station a 20-meter wide film reflector was deployed sending a flash of light to Earth before the sunrise.

The next phase of the experiment, Znamya-3, would be crucial for the entire program.

Objectives: the deployment of two film reflectors formed by centrifugal force on a cargo of the Progress family, registration of micro-particles, illumination of Earth's surface with reflected sun light, control of the gyroscopic couple, retransmission of radio waves.