Kosmos 2217 (Russian: Космос 2217 meaning Cosmos 2217) is a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1992 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2217
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1992-069A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.22189
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date21 October 1992, 10:21 (1992-10-21UTC10:21Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
Decay date6 November 2010 (2010-11-07)[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude645 kilometres (401 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,720 kilometres (24,680 mi)[4]
Inclination62.9 degrees[4]
Period718.00 minutes[4]

Kosmos 2217 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[5] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 10:21 UTC on 21 October 1992.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1992-069A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 22189.[3]

It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 6 November 2010.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 10 (1): 21–60. Bibcode:2002S&GS...10...21P. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.6127. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882. S2CID 122901563. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 2217". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.