Kosmos 2446 (Russian: Космос 2446 meaning Cosmos 2446) is a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2008 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme.[5] The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2446
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID2008-062A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.33447
Mission duration4 years[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date2 December 2008, 05:03 (2008-12-02UTC05:03Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Decay dateMay 6th, 2017
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya[2]
Perigee altitude522 kilometres (324 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,190 kilometres (24,350 mi)[4]
Inclination62.8 degrees[4]
Period704.78 minutes[4]

Kosmos 2446 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 05:03 UTC on 2 December 2008.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2008-062A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 33447.[3]

Ground track of Kosmos 2446

References

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  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 15 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 2446". National Space Science Data Centre. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ Podvig, Pavel (2 December 2008). "Launch of Cosmos-2446, a new first-generation early-warning satellite". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 30 April 2012.

See also

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