Kosmos 2479 (Russian: Космос 2479 meaning Cosmos 2479) is a Russian US-KMO missile early warningsatellite 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]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcde"Oko-2 (Cosmos-2479) atop Proton-K/Block DM-2 on March 30, 2012". Orbiter Forum. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  2. ^ abcdePavel, Podvig (30 March 2012). "Cosmos-2479 - new geostationary early warning satellite". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  3. ^Peat, Chris (8 November 2013). "COSMOS 2479 - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ^ abc"Cosmos 2479". National Space Science Data Centre. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. ^ ab"2012-012". Zarya. n.d. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. ^"Oko Satellite successfully delivered to Orbit". Spaceflight 101. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. ^Graham, William (29 March 2012). "Russian Proton-K completes 45 years of service with US-KMO satellite launch". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  8. ^ abZak, Anatoly (19 August 2012). "Oko Early Warning Satellite". Russian Space Web. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  9. ^Pavel, Podvig (31 May 2012). "An early-warning satellite command center opens up". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  10. ^Satre, Jens (21 October 2012). "Kosmos 2479 at 166.3° E". Satellite Calculations. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  11. ^Pavel, Podvig (13 November 2012). "Changes in Russia's early warning satellite constellation". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 28 November 2012.