Cosmos 2470 (Geo-IK-2 1 (11L))

Spacecraft nº:

Russian spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  37362 / 11005A Launch date  01 Feb 2011 - 14:00 UT Launch site  Plesetsk, LC-133/3 Launch vehicle  Rokot-KM Mission  Geodetic Earth orbit on Feb 1.78: Perigee / Apogee  355 x 993 km Eccentricity  0.045 Inclination  99.46 deg Period  98.23 min Planned orbit  1000 x 1000 km, 99.4°

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  ISS Reshetnev Platform  Glonass-M bus Operator   Mass at launch  ~1400 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment   Solar array  two Stabilization  3-axis stabilized Propulsion   DC power

Satellite ready before launch

End of live:

Mission details:

• The GEO-IK 2 payload is the first of two new satellites planned for geodetic measurements of Earth's shape, rotation and gravitational field. GEO-IK 2 is also designed to probe plate tectonics, tides and movements of the poles. Such research has military and civilian applications. The GEO-IK 2 spacecraft includes an altimeter built by Thales Alenia Space of France.
• Russia's Geo-IK-2 No. 11 satellite, built by ISS Reshetnev, was stranded in transfer orbit when the Rokot launch vehicle's Briz-KM upper stage failed to restart for its second burn on Feb 1; leaving the satellite in an elliptical transfer orbit. The payload and rocket are being tracked in 355 x 933 km and 319 x 1053 km x 99.5 deg orbits.
• The model 14F31 satellite is based on the Glonass-M bus and so probably has a mass around 1400 kg.