SIMFEROPOL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER DEPLOYED COMM/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES USSR JUNE 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04563A000100010029-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: June 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
NATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
CENTER
SIMFEROPOL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
DEPLOYED COMM/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES
USSR
JUNE '1969
COPY NOIC3
10 .. PAGES
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
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 edT6P eSE SET
Simferopol Space Flight Center
NA 145-03-26N 033-53-42E
MAP REFERENCE
ACIC. US Air Target Chart 200, Sheet M0250-20F[L, 6th ed, Feb 68, Scale 1:200,000 (SE-
CRETI
ABSTRACT
This report provides a detailed analysis of the Simferopol Space Flight Center from
hen it was in the early stages of construction, through
t e atest covrage. The facility, apparently the most significant tracking facility in
the Soviet Union, contains the largest number of antennas, the largest area, and the
most personnel of any of the Soviet tracking facilities.
The facility is one of a network of ten facilities which contain earth satellite vehicle
tracking equipment and provide command/control for Soviet near-space events. Addition-
ally, this facility apparently supports lunar programs in association with the Yevpatoriya
Deep Space Tracking Facility.
INTRODUCTION
Simferopol Space Flight Center (Figure 1), the largest tracking facility in the Soviet
Union, is 11 nautical miles (nm) northwest of the town of Simferopol in the Crimea. It
is approximately 34 nm northwest of the Yevpatoriya Deep Space Tracking Facility which
is reported to be directly associated with this center. 1 / The center is situated among
rolling hills at an approximate elevation of 150 feet. The terrain to the south becomes
increasingly rugged, while to the north it is more gentle.
Antennas present at this center provide an excellent capability for tracking and
communicating with near- and deep-space vehicles, in addition to collecting and evalu-
ating telemetry. The Flim Flam component can track, command, and control various
types of Soviet space vehicles. Simferopol is one of ten facilities that contain this com-
ponent.
Construction of the facility was started prior tol and the center has 25X1
been growing continuously since that time. These construction updates apparently par-
allel the "state of the art" with respect to space launchings.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
The center may be subdivided into four functional areas: the main operations area;
the telemetry collection area; the interferometer area; and the general support area
(Figure 1). The general support area and the main operations area are adjoining areas
which comprise 287 of the 340 acres of the facility. The remaining two areas are phys-
ically separated; one on the east side of the main operations area and one on the west
side. This separation is probably because of the need for isolating the sensitive receiving
equipment situated at these locations.
Main Operations Area
This area (Figures 1 and 2) includes three basic components: a 105-foot tracking dish;
the Flim Flam component; and the HF communications facility. There are a number of
additional telemetry antennas positioned throughout the area. There are approximately
of floorspace in the structures located within the area, and the area
is separately fenced. All item numbers are keyed to Table 1 and Figures 2 or 3, as indi-
cated; communications antennas are designated alphabetically on Figure 2.
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t05-Foot Tracking Dish
This component is located in the southern portion of the main operations area. Ia.
consists of a 105-foot tracking dish mounted on an azimuth /elevation pedestal (item 153)_
a large U-shaped control building (item 152), control/support buildings (items 147, 148
and 164; , and several small support buildings. Adjacent to the antenna and on two sides
are rosette patterns of devices/structures which are used when the dish has been low-
&?red for maintenance or modification. A crane used to lower and erect the dish is present
on the latest coverage. An unidentified antenna/ antenna mount is present on the north-
east end of item 164.
A 1.05-foot dish antenna such as this one would permit communications and telemetry
reception at lunar distances. The antenna is operational.
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','Jim Fh m Component
The Him Flam component is centrally located within the main operations area. and
?untains two control buildings with roof-mounted light- and dark-colored environmental
domes apparently covering tracking/receiving dishes (items 111). This component also
contains an alignment/calibration mast (item 133a), two vertical dipole communications
antennas (items 109 and 110). and one cooling pond (item 130). Tracking dishes observed
uncovered at Khutor and Plesetsk Flim. Flam facilities have measured approximately ^ 25X1
=n diameter.
This component is capable of providing command! control for earth satellite vehicles
. nd appears to be fully operational.
l[F Communications Facility
The IIF communications facility is located along the northern fenceline of the main
operations area. There are two groupings of HF rhombic antennas. The westernmost
group contains nine upper spectrum 1IF bidirectional rhombic receiving antennas (items
C through K, Figure 2) which are served by a control building adjacent to the south
""item R32). The balance of the HF antennas are to the east, consisting of two double
rhombic antennas arranged in a day/ night pair (items A and B, Figure 2) and two
possible horizontal dipole antennas. A control building for these antennas cannot be
:specifically identified.
The nine rhombic antennas have been reported to be space receiving antennas. 1 j
'his is possible, considering their nearly omnidirectional pattern and the fact that they
are resonant only at upper high frequencies. The day, night pair of rhombic antennas is
used for terrestrial communication.
Other Equipment, Antennas, and Control Buildings in the Main Operations Area
1 t.em 11 is a communications control building with at least five vertical dipole
antennas surrounding it. Located on the north side of the main area is a telemetry con-
1 rot building with five antenna platform positions on its roof. At present only two of the
antenna positions are occupied. To the north of this building is a five-element (Type II)
pedestal-mounted helix array (item 40).
Items 106 and 107 are control buildings with SHIP WHEEL tracking dishes mounted
on the roofs of each building. Their function is most likely beacon tracking.
North of the SI1IP WIIFIEL radars is a control building with a roof-mounted fourn-
element helix array (item 103) which is reported to be a Doppler tracking antenna. 1
Two additional control buildings are located in the area (items 104 and 105). A probable
optical tracking building (item 131) which appears to have a slide-back roof is located
ort distance to the west.
A control building (item 145) has been positioned north of the 105-foot tracking dish.
Adjacent to this building is a 16-element helix array (item 144), a R400 microwave tower
two dishes, and an unoccupied pedestal. The 16-element array appears to be a
telemetry receiving antenna. Another control building (item 127) which is cable connected
to the in-:erferometer has been positioned in the same area.
Item 140 is a control building associated with the five element Type I helix array
(stern 141). Two unidentified antennas (items 139 and 142) and a cooling pond which is
presently empty are also observed. There appears to be some construction activity taking
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 ANTENNAS
ITEM TYPE
NO
AZIMUTH
(DEGREES)
MAJOR AXIS
(FT)
MINOR AXIS
(FT)
LEG LENGTH
(FT)
END POLE
SEPARATION
(FT)
POLE
HEIGHT
PROBABLE
CORRESPONDENT
A
RGD
o
o
Moscow
B
RGD
55
80
Moscow
C
Single
25
D
Single
2
5
E
Single
5
2
F
Single
25
G
Single
25
H
Single
25
I
Single
25
J
Single
25
K
Single
25
_39A
040
39
1080
r n: n .-L-
104
H 11
\ ~~~~ [L eCr wo uic \u//^\\ rio
. \\~~ 142
wires T"
ax TE F0011111 s 143 ,
12] P / a128 LE
112p\
FLIM FLAM COMPONENT
140 --
13]Q O 138 138a o
Road/handstand
Fence
- Ground scar
Powbb
Nab buried eawecllne
- --?---
Buried conduit/ conduit scar
Buried storage
?O Buried tank
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 Ground Scar
I Road/hardstand
Fence
Scar
4
50
Overhead crane anchors
150
FEET APPROXIMATE
NPIC M-5901
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ITEM
DESCRIPTION
1 Elevated ground plane for 16-
element helix array
2a 16-element helix array control bldg
b Section
3 Control/support bldg
4 Control/support bldg
5 Control/support bldg
6 Control/support bldg
7 Control/support bldg
8 Structure
9 Structure
10 Control bldg
S -5
FIGURE 3. TELEMETRY COLLECTION AREA.
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DIMENSIONS (FT)
LW H
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
11 8-element Yagi antennas (2)
12-15 Hardstands
16 Elevated ground plane far 20-ele-
ment helix array
11 Elevated ground plane for 20-ele
ment helix array
18 85-ft tracking dish
19 85-ft tracking dish control bldg
20 Unoccupied antenna pedestal
21 Commo bldg with 4 roof-mounted
vertical dipole antennas
New Steam Line
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DIMENSIONS (FT)
L W H
/sue
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place in the area of item 139. The small scale of recent coverage precludes identification,
but the object observed in the area appears circular and may possibly be an antenna
under construction. A new control building (item 143) in this general location is now
externally complete. The area appears operational although expansion activity is taking
place.
A total of three self-supporting equipment towers (items 133, 165, and 166) are present
at the main operations area. Their purpose is primarily to aid in the alignment and
calibration of the various antennas throughout the area.
Several electronics vans are observed at the western fence line. Their purpose is
unknown.
Telemetry Collection Area
The telemetry collection area (Figure 3) receives telemetry and communications from
space vehicles. The physical separation of this component from the main operations
area was most likely done to avoid interference from transmitting antennas.
This area contains a new 85-foot tracking dish and its control building, 2/ which is
nearly complete on the most recent photography; two eight-element Yagi antennas and
two 20-element helix array antennas together with their control building; a control build-
ing with an adjacent 16-element helix array on one end and an unoccupied pedestal
adjacent to the other end; and five control/support buildings.
The area appears operational except for the new 85-foot dish which should be
operational in the near future. The security fence has been extended to include all the
newer facilities.
A short distance to the southeast is a separately secured area containing a small
communications building with four roof-mounted vertical dipole antennas.
Interferometer Tracking Area
The interferometer tracking area (Figure 4) has been physically separated and posi-
tioned to the west of the main area to avoid interference from other antennas. The area
is separately secured and contains a standard second-generation Soviet interferometer
which employs six receiving antennas and two alignment devices on each of two base
legs which perpendicularly bisect each other. A. control building is buried just beneath
the point of bisection.
General Support Area
The general support area (Figure 2) is a large area adjoining the main operations
area and includes administration buildings; barracks/ apartment buildings; one old and
one new heat/power plant; buried probable fuel storage tanks; buried storage structures;
two athletic tracks; a firing range, and numerous general support/ maintenance buildings.
The entire area contains approximately 100 buildings with an approximate floor area of
468,480 square feet.
Status and Activity
Before
mti.,, F;-4 ;ntornrPtah1P nhoto rabhv of Simferopol was overage of
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ications facility may have been present; however, the interpretability of this
IiF commun
photography did not permit its identification. Limited operations may have been possible
at the telemetry collection facility which contained several control buildings; however,
the helix and Yagi arrays were not discernible. The Flim Flam component and the
In all, approximately 40
interferometer tracking area were not present in
buildings were either complete or under construction at this time. Security fences sur-
rounding the main operations area and general support area were essentially the same
as they are at present.
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I I
the Flim Flam component was first. visible under construction in
This component was again observed on photography of poor interpretability in
= with the two tracking buildings under construction; however, no antennas or en--
~Vlr'onmental domes were observed,
During this same period the 105-foot tracking dish appeared to be externally complete.
there was stall no conclusive photographic evidence that the helix and
arrays were in place.
helix and Yagi arrays. Additionally, antenna pedestals under construction at the Flirr
l Ian: component were observed on ground photography. Three calibration towers (items
`
1
'p, 165, and 166); a five-element helix array (item 141)- and a telemetry control building
ore roof-mounted two-element helix antenna (item 167) located just east of the
!1111 communications facility were also observed. Firm identification of the HF cornmuni-
rations facility was possible in I las well as the observance of early construction
can the interferometer device Continued expansion was observed at the support area.
The first large-scale photography was obtained in It was of good inter--
r?etability and delineated the 105-foot tracking dish (item 145) as a solid reflector resting
a stowed position. The erection crane was still at the side of the dish-
Two large HF rhombic antennas arranged in a day/night pair (items A and B. Figure
') and nine smaller H F rhombic antennas could now he identified at the HF' communi
cations facility.
The previously identified Yagi and helix arrays observed at the telemetry collection
'area cou'.d now be precisely located.
he two roof-mounted SHIP WHF,FI, tracking dishes (items 106 and 107) could be
observed; each was mounted on a separate building. North of these a completed roof-
ajount:ed four-element helix array was present. Construction of footings for an erection
crane at what was to become the site of an 85-foot mesh-reflector tracking dish was also
in progress. The westernmost control building of the Flim Flam component had a corn-
l feted 50-foot environmental dome on its root'. Continued construction of the interfer-
e nnter tracking area was observed. A structure later identified as a buried control
iruilding was under construction near the bisection point of the base leis of the inter
f ct roi n ete .
t~ the erection crane at the 105-foot tracking dish had been removed;
item 143. adjacent to the 105-foot tracking dish, could be identified as a telemetry control
building having a 16-element helix array located near its northwest end and an unoccu-
pied pedestal near the opposite end (item 145); the nine smaller rhombic antennas (items
t through K, Figure 2) at the HF communications facility could be identified as bi-
ectionaf receiving antennas.
16-element helix array and ari unoccupied pedestal were constructed just west of the
original telemetry collection component. This arrangement is nearly identical to that
adjacent to the 105 foot tracking dish. During the same period the Flim Flam component
was externally completed with the positioning of a second 50-foot environmental dome
on the easternmost control building. The interferometer tracking area was nearly com--
Plete with all the antenna and alignment- positions present; the control building had
been buried,
i)iiran;> this period the two-element helix antenna mounted on the telemetry control
building (item 39A) was removed. Just north of this building a new pedestal-mounted
five-element helix array (item 40) was erected. The 85-foot tracking dish appeared to be
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Road
Fence
Calibration/alignment position
Antenna position
complete but there was no evidence of a control building or feedline to support the
operation of this antenna. A new heating plant was under construction in the general
support area. The erection crane used to elevate the 85-foot tracking dish had been
removed; however, a crane was being assembled once again at the 105-foot tracking dish.
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I R-2-901-0150-65 23, 24 j inn 65 CONFIDENTIAL
t_:4-(;2. 1)1-1)4
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Al-A33', 1;1-18
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A'~' = 131 13.11,
CI-CO
A(1(;. ['S Air Target Chart 200, Sheet M0250-2011I. 6th ed, Feb 68, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET/ 25X1
I
\i1(:. Selected Parabolic Antennas at Simferopol, Galenki, and Moscow/Shchelkovo
clicking Facilities. Oct 68 (TOP SECRET
,t )hi1IIFIX BR-6/002-69
NFIC Project 210182
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