Cosmos 2445

Launch data:

Mission details:

• On Nov 14, 2008 a Russian Defense Ministry Kobal't-M imaging reconnaissance satellite codenamed Cosmos-2445 was launched into a 169 x 314 km x 67.1 deg orbit.
• This is the fourth improved Kobal't satellite, all of which flew in similar 67.1 deg orbits:
  • Kobal't-M Kosmos-2410 2004 Sep 24-2005 Jan 9 (107 days)
  • Kobal't-M Kosmos-2420 2006 May 3-2006 Jul 19 (77 days)
  • Kobal't-M Kosmos-2427 2007 Jun 7-2007 Aug 22 (76 days)
  • Kobal't-M Kosmos-2445 2008 Nov 14
• We can therefore expect this mission to last at least until Jan 29.
• The satellite consists of a propulsion module, and a recoverable camera module. It also carries two small supplementary SpK recoverable film capsules which will be deorbited during the mission.
• Cosmos-2445 raised its orbit to 194 x 347 km on Nov 17, 2008.
• Cosmos 2445 was de-orbited on February 23, 2009 with its descent module being recovered. The landing time was not announced and there are two possibilities based upon final equator crossing calculations: 07:05 UT or 08:35 UT (both times are expected to be +2 minutes).