Kosmos 2176
Kosmos 2176 (Russian: Космос 2176 meaning Cosmos 2176) was a Russian US-K early warning satellite [6] which was launched in 1992 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]
| Mission type | Early warning |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1992-003A |
| SATCAT no. | 21847 |
| Mission duration | 4 years [1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | US-K [2] |
| Launch mass | 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 January 1992, 01:18 UTC[1][4] |
| Rocket | Molniya-M/2BL[2] |
| Launch site | Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3] |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 17 January 2012[4] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Molniya [2] |
| Perigee altitude | 632 km (393 mi)[5] |
| Apogee altitude | 39,725 km (24,684 mi)[5] |
| Inclination | 62.9 degrees[5] |
| Period | 717.84 min[5] |
Kosmos 2176 was launched from Site 43/3 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[7] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 01:18 UTC on 24 January 1992.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1992-003A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 21847.[3]
It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on January 17, 2012.[4]
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.
- "Cosmos 2176". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- "REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING - Cosmos 2176". n.d. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- Andrew Wilson - Jane's space directory 1993 - 94 - Page 10
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.