Kosmos 1188
Kosmos 1188 (Russian: Космос 1188 meaning Cosmos 1188) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1980 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2] It re-entered on May 24, 2013.[4]
| Mission type | Early warning |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1980-050A |
| SATCAT no. | 11844 |
| Mission duration | 4 years [1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | US-K [2] |
| Launch mass | 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 June 1980, 20:52 UTC |
| Rocket | Molniya-M/2BL[2] |
| Launch site | Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3] |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 28 October 1980[1] |
| Decay date | 24 May 2013[4] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Molniya [2] |
| Perigee altitude | 665 kilometres (413 mi)[5] |
| Apogee altitude | 39,679 kilometres (24,655 mi)[5] |
| Inclination | 62.8 degrees[5] |
| Period | 717.56 minutes[5] |
Kosmos 1188 was launched from Site 41/3 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian SSR.[3] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 20:52 UTC on 14 June 1980.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1980-050A.[5] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 11844.[5]
Its June 1980 launch was noted for triggering reports of a dolphin shaped UFO.[6] The launch created so many UFO reports, they revealed the satellite's approximate orbital inclination (about 62.5 degrees).[7] Some of the sightings may have been sunlight reflecting of fourth-stage exhaust contrails.[7] NBC noted the sightings's appearance in the Weinstein list.[8]
See also
- 1980 in spaceflight
- List of Kosmos satellites (1001–1250)
- List of Oko satellites
- List of R-7 launches (1980-1984)
References
- Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 10: 21–60. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.6127. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-15.
- "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- Aerospace.org - Cosmos 1188
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- Antony Milne (2002). Sky Static: The Space Debris Crisis. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-275-97749-8.
- J. Oberg - FATE ( January 1983)
- J. Oberg - 10 solved UFO mysteries from the Weinstein List - NBC News