Kosmos 1223

Summary

Kosmos 1223 (Russian: Космос 1223 meaning Cosmos 1223) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite, which was launched in 1980 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 1223
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1980-095A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.12078
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date27 November 1980, 21:37 (1980-11-27UTC21:37Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Deactivated11 August 1982[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude663 kilometres (412 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,697 kilometres (24,667 mi)[4]
Inclination62.9 degrees[4]
Period717.90 minutes[4]
 

Kosmos 1223 was launched from Site 41/1 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian SSR.[3] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 21:37 UTC on 27 November 1980.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit.

It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1980-095A.[4] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 12078.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 10 (1): 21–60. Bibcode:2002S&GS...10...21P. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.6127. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882. S2CID 122901563. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.

See also edit