Kosmos 2393 (Russian: Космос 2393 meaning Cosmos 2393) is a Russian US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 2002 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme.[5] The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2393
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID2002-059A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.27613
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date24 December 2002, 12:20 (2002-12-24UTC12:20Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
End of mission
DeactivatedFebruary 2007 [4][5]
Decay date22 December 2013
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude527 kilometres (327 mi)[6]
Apogee altitude39,173 kilometres (24,341 mi)[6]
Inclination62.8 degrees[6]
Period704.56 minutes[6]

Kosmos 2393 was launched from Site 16/2 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 12:20 UTC on 24 December 2002.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2002-059A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 27613.[3]

It stopped undertaking maneuvers to remain in its orbital position in February 2007 which probably indicates that it was not working from that date.[4][5] It re-entered on December 22, 2013, according to one source.[8]

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 2393". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b Podvig, Pavel (23 October 2007). "Launch of Cosmos-2430 early-warning satellite". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Podvig, Pavel (March 5, 2007). "Cosmos-2393 ended operations?". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Aerospace". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2014-01-27.