Cosmos 2455

Launch data:

Designation	36095 / 09063A
Launch date	20 Nov 2009 - 10:44 UT
Launch site	Plesetsk
Launch vehicle	Soyuz-U
Mission	Military: Reconnaissance
Satellite type	Lotos-S #1
Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	903 x 907 km
Eccentricity	2.75E-04
Inclination	67.16 deg
Period	103.1 min

Prime contractor	TsSKB-Progress Samara Space Center
Platform
Operator	Ministry of Defense
Mass at launch	5000 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	still active

New generation electronic reconnaissance satellite, possibly will work as part of the Liana electronic reconnaissance system.
A Russian Defense Ministry satellite was launched on Nov 20 and given the cover name Kosmos-2455. It is probably the first Lotos-S electronic intelligence satellite. Lotos-S satellites are built by TsSKB-Progress Samara Space Center (Samara) and KB Arsenal (Sankt-Peterburg) for the Russian Defense Ministry. Initial orbit is 199 x 904 km x 67.2 deg. After a small perigee tweak on Nov 22, a major burn by the onboard propulsion unit circularized the orbit at 903 x 906 km on Nov 23.

Ref.: #7(JR618), #226 - update: 26.03.10