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Launch of two Strela-3 communication satellites - Cosmos-2408 and Cosmos-2409

On September 23, 2004 Russia successfully launched Cosmos-3M rocket with Cosmos-2408 and Cosmos-2409 spacecraft from the Plesetsk launch site (launch pad No. 1 of the launch complex No. 132). The satellites are most likely military communication satellites of the Strela-3 type, used by the military intelligence. The previous launch of satellites of this type was conducted on August 19, 2003.

The launch was performed by the Space Forces with support of the APO Polyot launch crews at 19:07 MSK (18:07 DMV, 15:07 UTC). According to the Main Space Command and Control Center of the Space Forces, the spacecraft successfully reached their orbits at 20:01 MSK. International designations and NORAD catalog numbers of Cosmos-2408 and Cosmos-2409 are 2004-037A/28419 and 2004-037B/28420 respectively.

According to NORAD, the spacecraft are deployed on orbits with the following parameters: Cosmos-2408 - inclination 82.5 degrees, orbital period 115.8 minutes, apogee 1517 km, perigee 1470 km; Cosmos-2409 - inclination 82.5 degrees, orbital period 115.6 minutes, apogee 1517 km, perigee 1475 km.

The launch was postponed at least twice. It was initially scheduled for September 21, 2004, but was moved to 19:14 MSK on September 22 for technical reasons. Then it was postponed because of weather (high wind).

[Space] [September 23, 2004] []

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References to this entry

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[Launch of two communication satellites of Gonets-D1M/Strela-3 type] [December 21, 2005 9:58 PM] [#]

Comments

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=370263&C=europe

According to Defense News, citing Itar Tass (link above) the Kosmos satellites are used to monitor ballistic missile launches. Could this launch be connected to the Bulava launch which also took place today? While I notice that there did not seem to have been an actual firing of the Bulava engine, an apparent report by Interfax says that the warhead hit its target: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10863808%255E1702,00.html

[T] [September 24, 2004] [#]

Satellites that monitor launches are different Cosmos satellites (see for example: http://russianforces.org/eng/defense/). So, this launch is not related to the Bulava test.

As for the reports about Bulava's hitting its target, they must have been a result of some misunderstanding.

[Pavel Podvig] [September 24, 2004] [#]

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