This thing has always fascinated me. Wuestions about its orbit, changing orbit, solar orbit then lunar, then earth polar orbit. Scared the hell out of US and Russia in polar orbit before either country could do it. Broadcasts, codes...... this thing has it all! Time, I think, ran a story on it in the sixties or seventies.

Also, above poster is correct. This thread won't last long... they always get dereailed and forgotten.

It is SO neat to see new pics. Good find, OP! 5*!