Kosmos 2469

Summary

Kosmos 2469 (Russian: Космос 2469 meaning Cosmos 2469) was a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2010 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 2469
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID2010-049A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.37170
Mission durationPlanned: 4 years[1]
Final: 12 years and 15 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date30 September 2010, 17:01 (2010-09-30UTC17:01Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Decay date15 October 2022
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude607 kilometres (377 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,741 kilometres (24,694 mi)[4]
Inclination62.8 degrees[4]
Period717.64 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 September 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]

On 15 October 2022, Kosmos 2469 re-entered the atmosphere.[6]

Ground track of Kosmos 2469

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 f "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 2469". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ Podvig, Pavel (September 30, 2010). "Cosmos-2469 might be the last HEO early-warning satellite". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  6. ^ "COSMOS 2469". N2YO.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.

External links edit

  • Video of the launch from Vesti.ru