Kosmos 2063

Summary

Kosmos 2063 (Russian: Космос 2063 meaning Cosmos 2063) is a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1990 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2063
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1990-026A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.20536
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date27 March 1990, 16:40 (1990-03-27UTC16:40Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude626 kilometres (389 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,729 kilometres (24,686 mi)[4]
Inclination62.9 degrees[4]
Period717.80 minutes[4]
 

Kosmos 2063 was launched from Site 43/3 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[5] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 16:40 UTC on 27 March 1990.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1990-026A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 20536.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ 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 d e "Cosmos 2063". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.