Official name SFERA
Alternative name Sfera-53
Cospar ID 1998-067CM
Norad ID 38751
Launch date 1998-11-20
Launch site TTMTR
Launch vehicle Soyuz-U
Country/Organization Russia
Type application Atmosphere density
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date 2012-11-24
Shape Sphere
Mass (kg) 8
Height (m) 0.5
Width (m) 0.5
Depth (m) 0.5
Span (m^2) 0.5
Lifetime 3 months
Equipment None
Propulsion None
Configuration 53 cm sphere
Power None

Sfera-53 (also known as TEKh-44 or Vektor-T) is a small, passive satellite to measure the atmospheric density. The 53 cm diameter sphere (hence the name) was transported on 1 August 2012 on Progress-M 16M to the ISS.

Release of Sfera was made during a spacewalk (EVA) in the aft-nadir from ISS utilizing a mechanism that was attached to it prior to the EVA. Deployment occurred on 20 August 2012 at 18:29 UTC. It re-entered in late November 2012.

A second Sfera-53 satellite is to be launched in 2017.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
SFERA 1998-067CM 1998-11-20 TTMTR Soyuz-U with Progress-M 16M
SFERA 2 1998-067NC 1998-11-20 TTMTR Soyuz-2-1a with Progress-MS 06, TNS 0-2, Tanyusha-YuZGU 1, Tanyusha-YuZGU 2