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Polyot (Russian: Полёт, meaning "flight") was a designation given to two satellites operated by the Soviet Union. Polyot 1 and Polyot 2 were launched on 2 November 1963 and 12 April 1964 respectively. Both spacecrafts were fitted with special controls to allow for maneuverability in space; each was able to adjust inclination as well as apogee and perigee, they were the first satellites capable of such maneuverability. Each craft weighed 600kg and were launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome by an R-7 rocket. Their orbits have since decayed.

The Polyot satellite designs were later essentially continued under the Kosmos designation starting from Kosmos 185.

Anti-Satellite research

The Polyot satellites were a part of the Istrebitel Sputnikov Anti-satellite programme, and were designed to test maneuverability capability of remotely operated spacecraft. Once both Satellites were in orbit they were maneuvered to approach one another at a close proximity, the two craft came within 5 km of one another and ship-to-ship radio contact was established, marking a first in spaceflight.

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2. "Polyot 1". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov.
3. "Polyot 2". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov.
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