Cosmos 2496

Launched together with: Cosmos 2497 & Cosmos 2498

Prime contractor	NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (NPO PM)
Platform
Operator	VKS
Mass at launch	225 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime

On May 23, 2014 Russia launched three Strela-3M/Rodnik-S LEO messaging relay satellites into 1480 x 1510 km x 82.4 deg orbits; they were given the Cosmos codenames: Cosmos-2496, 2497 and 2498. The Briz-M stage ended up in an 1151 x 1503 km orbit after its depletion burn. An additional object, 39765/2014-028E, is suspected to be an additional small military payload, which may be eventually given the cover name Cosmos-2499. It is probably built by the Reshetnev company and may have a mass of around 45 kg.

Ref.: #7(JR698), #14, #228 - update: 03.12.14