Kosmos 2430
Kosmos 2430 (Russian: Космос 2430 meaning Cosmos 2430) was a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2007 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme.[7] The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2] Kosmos 2430 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[8] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 04:39 UTC on 23 October 2007.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2007-049A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 32268.[3] In May 2012, it did not perform a manoeuvre and drifted off station.[4] On 5 January 2019, it was caught on video[9] as it de-orbited over the North Island of New Zealand.[10][11] See also
References
|