Kosmos 2176

Summary

Kosmos 2176 (Russian: Космос 2176 meaning Cosmos 2176) was a Russian US-K early warning satellite[6] which was launched in 1992 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2176
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1992-003A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.21847
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date24 January 1992, 01:18 (1992-01-24UTC01:18Z) UTC[1][4]
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Decay date17 January 2012 (2012-01-18)[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude632 km (393 mi)[5]
Apogee altitude39,725 km (24,684 mi)[5]
Inclination62.9 degrees[5]
Period717.84 min[5]
 

Kosmos 2176 was launched from Site 43/3 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[7] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 01:18 UTC on 24 January 1992.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1992-003A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 21847.[3]

It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on January 17, 2012.[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. 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 2176". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  4. ^ a b c "REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING - Cosmos 2176". n.d. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  5. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  6. ^ Andrew Wilson - Jane's space directory 1993 - 94 - Page 10
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.