Kosmos 1518

Summary

Kosmos 1518 (Russian: Космос 1518 meaning Cosmos 1518) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1983 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 1518
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1983-126A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.14587
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date28 December 1983, 03:48 (1983-12-28UTC03:48Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Deactivated1 June 1984[1]
Decay date19 September 1998 (1998-09-20)[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude614 kilometres (382 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,768 kilometres (24,711 mi)[4]
Inclination63.0 degrees[4]
Period718.35 minutes[4]
 

Kosmos 1518 was launched from Site 16/2 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 03:48 UTC on 28 December 1983.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1983-126A.[4] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 14587.[4]

It reentered the Earth's atmosphere on 19 September 1998.[4]

See also edit

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. 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 g h McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.