At 03:59 MSK on June 27, 2008 (23:59 June 26, 2008 UTC) the Space Forces carried out a launch of a Proton-K launcher (with DM-3 booster stage) from the Baykonur site (launch pad No. 24 of the launch complex No. 81). The Space Forces reported that the satellite delivered into orbit will work as part of the early-warning system.
The satellite will most likely be named Cosmos-2440. It received NORAD number 33108 and international designation 2008-033A. According to NORAD orbital data, the satellite was deployed on a nearly geosyncronous orbit at about 90E and is drifting eastward with a speed of about 1.5 degree/day.
Cosmos-2440 is a satellite of the 71Kh6 type, which work as part of the US-KMO system. It is likely that it will be stabilized in the 80E point at first - US-KMO satellites are normally deployed in that station before moving to their permanent positions.
It is not clear yet if Cosmos-2440 will replace the only currently operational US-KMO satellite, Cosmos-2379, which has been working since 2001 and is close to the end of life span demonstrated by spacecraft of its class. In August-September 2007 Cosmos-2379 was moved from the 24W position that it occupied for most of its operational life to its current position at 12E. It is possible that the transfer was made in anticipation of the upcoming launch of Cosmos-2440. The launch was probably scheduled for the second half of 2006 or for 2007, but was postponed when the Proton-K launcher was given to a civilian program.
[UPDATE 07/11/08: Cosmos-2440/31108 was stabilized at about 80E on July 11, 2008.]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oko
here is interesting link, they say than in 2008 proton-k rocket will launch new generation of oko satellite know as oko-1.
Does anybody know is this satellite belong to the new generation or it is for sure 71Kh6 satellite.
Also Does anybody know anything about future early warning satellites?
Nedim: It would be nice if the wikipedia article had a link. Russia is indeed working on a new system, but it is called EKS and it is not expected to be ready until 2009.
Does Russia have 24/7 coverage of all the relevant areas still?
No, it doesn't.
Pavel, Russia doesn't have 24x7 coverage. That means Russia may not detect all American ICBM launch! Is it not vulnerable for Russia? Can Russian early warning radars (located within Russia) detect ICBM launched from mainland America? How Russia detect the launch of American ICBM? Do you have any idea about how many early warning satellites are deployed in Geostationary orbit by America?
Pavel sorry for off topic.
But I have to ask - what do you think of this video;
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ljp934s8G-I
Is there any truth to it?(maneuverable vechicles)
I wrote about this a few times. Search for "hypersonic" in the blog.