On 25 April 1970 8 small STRELA-1M satellites manufactured by RESHETNEV were injected into low Earth orbit by COSMOS-3M launch vehicle from Plesetsk cosmodrome. This was the first time launching so many satellites at the same time.
STRELA-1M satellites design was based on the very first RESHETNEV company satellite with regards to all the flaws and strengths of the experimental STRELA satellites. The new satellite hardware was much more advanced and its design was later used in amateur radio satellites such as RADIO, ZEYA and MOZHAETS.
STRELA-M1 turned out to be the most mass produced RESHETNEV company satellites with the total number of 360 satellites. These satellites ensured communication for the same-name satellite system.
