Cosmos 2480

Launch data:

Designation:

• COSMOS 2480 is likely a Kobalt M reconnaissance satellite carrying an optical camera to snap photos of military installations, troop movements and other sites of interest around the world. Kobalt satellites orbit between 150 miles (241 km) and 300 miles (483 km) above Earth. High-resolution cameras on Kobalt satellites capture images of locations around the world. Kobalt spacecraft reportedly carry canisters to return film to Earth during the satellite's mission, which will last at least several months.
• Will deorbit in 3-4 months; drop cannisters of film.

Mission details:

• A new Kobal't-M imaging spy satellite was launched on May 17 from Plesetsk into a 186 x 255 km x 81.4 deg orbit - the second Kobal't-M to this near polar inclination. At about 0750 UTC on May 20 the satellite's orbit was raised to 218 x 248 km as it began its operational mission.
• The Russian Defense Ministry's Cosmos-2480 spacecraft, a Kobal't-M imaging satellite, landed on Sep 24, 2012 around 1703 UTC. A deorbit burn at around 1639 UTC was followed by separation of the service module and reentry of the pressurized main payload section which contains cameras and film.