Kosmos 1285

Kosmos 1285
Mission type Early warning
COSPAR ID 1981-071A
SATCAT № 12627
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 4 August 1981, 00:13 (1981-08-04UTC00:13Z) UTC
Rocket Molniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch site Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Deactivated 21 November 1981[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Molniya [2]
Perigee 622 kilometres (386 mi)[4]
Apogee 40,204 kilometres (24,982 mi)[4]
Inclination 63.0 degrees[4]
Period 727.37 minutes[4]

Kosmos 1285 (Russian: Космос 1285 meaning Cosmos 1285) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1981 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 1285 was launched from Site 16/2 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 00:13 UTC on 4 August 1981.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1981-071A.[4] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 12627.[4]

It did not reach working orbit and self-destructed.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (pdf). Science and Global Security 10: 21–60. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.


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