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Russia loses its only geostationary early-warning satellite

Russia's only geostationary early-warning satellite, Cosmos-2479, launched in March 2012, has ceased operations. In March-April 2014 the satellite did not perform its regular station-keeping maneuver and, according to Kommersant, was formally declared nonoperational by the ministry of defense in April 2014.

Cosmos-2479 was a satellite of the 71Kh6 type that was developed as part of the US-KMO early-warning system, which was supposed to provide complete coverage of the northern hemisphere. However, the system never reached operational status and Cosmos-2479 was said to be the last 71Kh6 spacecraft. It was deployed at the point 166E (after a brief stop at 80E) and apparently worked with the Eastern Command Center that became operational in April 2012.

The loss of Cosmos-2379 leaves Russia's early-warning system with two satellites on highly-elliptical orbits - Cosmos-2422 and Cosmos-2446, launched in July 2006 and December 2008 respectively.

[Early warning] [June 25, 2014] []

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Comments

Are there any plans underway to replace the SPRN satellite constellations?

[Alex] [June 26, 2014] [#]

Yes, a new system, EKS, is in the works. The word is that the first satellite will be launched this year. However, it was expected to be ready in 2009 and then in 2011-2012. I wouldn't be surprised if it is delayed further.

[Pavel Podvig ] [June 27, 2014] [#]

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