Kosmos 2469
Kosmos 2469 (Russian: Космос 2469 meaning Cosmos 2469) is a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2010 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]
| Mission type | Early warning |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2010-049A |
| SATCAT no. | 37170 |
| Mission duration | 4 years [1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | US-K [2] |
| Launch mass | 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 September 2010, 17:01 UTC |
| Rocket | Molniya-M/2BL[2] |
| Launch site | Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Molniya [2] |
| Perigee altitude | 607 kilometres (377 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 39,741 kilometres (24,694 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 62.8 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.64 mins[4] |
Kosmos 2469 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[2] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 17:01 UTC on 30 August 2010.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2010-049A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 37170.[3]
It was the last launch of a US-K satellite and the last launch of a Molniya-M rocket.[5]
References
- Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 10: 21–60. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.6127. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-15.
- "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- "Cosmos 2469". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- Podvig, Pavel (September 30, 2010). "Cosmos-2469 might be the last HEO early-warning satellite". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 25 April 2012.