Kosmos 2468 (Russian: Космос 2468 meaning Cosmos 2468) is a Russian military communications satellite which was launched in 2010 by the Russian Space Forces. It was launched with Kosmos 2467 and a Gonets-M civilian communication satellite.
| Mission type | communications satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | VKS |
| COSPAR ID | 2010-043C |
| SATCAT no. | 37154 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (NPO PM)[1] |
| Launch mass | 225 kilograms (496 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 8 September 2010, 03:30 UTC |
| Rocket | Rokot/Briz-KM |
| Launch site | Plesetsk 133/3 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth Orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 1,509 kilometres (938 mi)[2] |
| Apogee altitude | 1,498 kilometres (931 mi)[2] |
| Inclination | 82.4 degrees[2] |
| Period | 116.06 minutes |
Launch
editKosmos 2468 was launched from Site 133/3 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. It was launched by a Rockot carrier rocket with a Briz-KM upper stage at 03:30 UTC on its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2010-043C. The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 37154.[2]
Strela-3 and Rodnik
editKosmos 2468 and Kosmos 2467 are Strela-3 communications satellite. One of them is a Strela-3, and one is a Strela-3M. It is not known which is which.[1] They are described as store-dump communications satellites which receive information from the ground when they pass overhead, and store that information until they pass over the ground station they deliver the information to.[3]: 15 The satellites are in low Earth orbit going round the Earth every 116 minutes.[2][4] A full deployment of Strela-3 craft should consist of twelve satellites.[3]: 15 One satellite has the GRAU index of 17F13, as a Strela-3, and the other has a GRAU index of 17F132 as a Strela-3M.[1][5]
Strela-3 has a civilian variant called Gonets which is used by the Russian government for communication in remote areas. It can take between two minutes and six hours to deliver messages.[6]
The previous satellites of this class, Kosmos 2451, Kosmos 2452 and Kosmos 2453 were launched together in July 2009.[5][7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter. "Strela-3 (14F13)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ a b Podvig, Pavel; Zuang, Hui (2008). Russian and Chinese Responses to US Military Plans in Space (PDF). Cambridge, Massachusetts: American Academy of Arts and Sciences. ISBN 978-0-87724-068-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Strela-3M (Rodnik, 14F132)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ a b Pavel, Podvig (2010-09-08). "Gonets-M, Strela-3, and Strela-3M satellites are in orbit". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ Ракета "Рокот" с четырьмя спутниками успешно стартовала с Плесецка [Rocket 'Rockot' was successfully launched from Plesetsk with four satellites] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ Pavel, Podvig (2009-07-06). "Rockot launched three communication satellites". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 2012-08-16.