Kosmos 520

Summary

Kosmos 520 (Russian: Космос 520 meaning Cosmos 520) was the first Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite. It was launched in 1972 as part of the Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 520
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1972-072A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.06192Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date19 September 1972, 19:19 (1972-09-19UTC19:19Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude741 kilometres (460 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,477 kilometres (24,530 mi)[4]
Inclination62.8 degrees[4]
Period715.03 minutes[4]
 

Kosmos 520 was launched from Site 41/1 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union.[2][5] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 19:19 UTC on 19 September 1972.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1972-072A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 06192.[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 f "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 2446". 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. "R7 Launches". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.

External links edit

  • Kosmos 520 in the Lavochkin museum - photograph from Novosti Kosmonavtiki, telescopes, infrared telescope, antenna