Kosmos 2479

Kosmos 2479
Mission typeEarly warning
OperatorVKO
COSPAR ID2012-012A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.38101
Mission duration5–7 years[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-KMO (71Kh6)[1][2]
ManufacturerLavochkin[1]
Launch mass2,600 kilograms (5,700 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date30 March 2012, 05:49 (2012-03-30UTC05:49Z) UTC
RocketProton-K/DM-2
Launch siteBaikonur 81/24[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude80°E then 166°E[when?]
Perigee altitude35,785 kilometres (22,236 mi)
Apogee altitude35,797 kilometres (22,243 mi)
Inclination1.12 degrees
Period23.93 hours
Epoch8 November 2013, 11:25:58 UTC[3]
Instruments
Infrared telescope with 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) aperture[1]

Kosmos 2479 (Russian: Космос 2479 meaning Cosmos 2479) is a Russian US-KMO missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2012 as part of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using infrared telescopes.[4] It was the last US-KMO geostationary satellite, to be launched, prior to the system being replaced by EKS.[5]

Kosmos 2479 was launched from Site 81/24 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The last[4][6][7] Proton-K carrier rocket with a DM-2 upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 05:49 UTC on 30 March 2012. The launch successfully placed the satellite into geostationary orbit.[2] It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2012-012A.[4] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 38101.[5]

Kosmos 2479 replaced Kosmos 2440 which was launched in June 2008 and operated until February 2010.[2] These satellites are moved to 80°E and then moved to their intended position.[2] It arrived at 80°E in mid-April 2012 and featured in the official opening of the Oko eastern control centre at Pivan-1 in May.[8][9] It started to drift from 80°E in July 2012 and in October 2012 it was stabilised at 166°E, a location registered as Prognoz-6 but which had previously never been used.[8][10][11]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference orbiter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference k2479 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Peat, Chris (8 November 2013). "COSMOS 2479 - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference nssdc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference zarya was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ruspace was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference pivan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference satcalc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference k2479-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).