Kosmos 2470
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 2470 also known as Geo-IK-2 No.11, is a Russian geodesy
satellite which was launched in 2011. The first Geo-IK-2 satellite, it was intended to be used to create a three-dimensional map of the Earth's surface, and to monitor plate tectonics
. The satellite was produced by ISS Reshetnev, and has a mass of around 1400 kilograms (3,086.5 lb). It was intended to operate in a circular orbit at an altitude of around 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) above the Earth's surface, however it was placed into a lower than planned orbit after its launch failed.
Geo-IK-2 No.11 was launched by a Rokot rocket with a Briz-KM upper stage. The launch took place from Site 133/3
at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
, at 14:00 UTC on 1 February 2011. The Rokot performed as expected, and the Briz-KM made the first of two burns to place the satellite into its operational orbit. When the second burn was scheduled to begin, the Briz-KM failed to reignite, leaving the spacecraft in its transfer orbit. Controllers were unable to make contact with the satellite after launch as had been expected, although a day after launch they were able to establish communications with it. It is currently in a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 368.8 kilometres (229.2 mi) and an apogee
of 1021.1 kilometres (634.5 mi), inclined at 99.4 degrees.
On 24 February 2011, Defence Minister Vladimir Popovkin
announced that the satellite would be unable to fulfil its mission and thus would not be used by Russian defence forces. He added that it might still be possible to use the satellite for "checking control systems." On 1 March the satellite's orientation systems malfunctioned, and the spacecraft moved out of alignment with the Sun, resulting in its solar panels being unable to generate electricity. The spacecraft subsequently began to tumble. Engineers believe that it is unlikely that control will be reestablished.
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
satellite which was launched in 2011. The first Geo-IK-2 satellite, it was intended to be used to create a three-dimensional map of the Earth's surface, and to monitor plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
. The satellite was produced by ISS Reshetnev, and has a mass of around 1400 kilograms (3,086.5 lb). It was intended to operate in a circular orbit at an altitude of around 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) above the Earth's surface, however it was placed into a lower than planned orbit after its launch failed.
Geo-IK-2 No.11 was launched by a Rokot rocket with a Briz-KM upper stage. The launch took place from Site 133/3
Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133
Site 133, also known as Raduga , is a launch complex at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. It is used by Rockot, and previously Kosmos carrier rockets. It consists of a single pad, originally designated 133/1, and later 133/3....
at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
, at 14:00 UTC on 1 February 2011. The Rokot performed as expected, and the Briz-KM made the first of two burns to place the satellite into its operational orbit. When the second burn was scheduled to begin, the Briz-KM failed to reignite, leaving the spacecraft in its transfer orbit. Controllers were unable to make contact with the satellite after launch as had been expected, although a day after launch they were able to establish communications with it. It is currently in a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with a perigee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 368.8 kilometres (229.2 mi) and an apogee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 1021.1 kilometres (634.5 mi), inclined at 99.4 degrees.
On 24 February 2011, Defence Minister Vladimir Popovkin
Vladimir Popovkin
Vladimir Aleksandrovich Popovkin is the General Director of the Russian Federal Space Agency and First Deputy Defense Minister of Russia. He is a retired General of the Army and former commander of the Russian Space Forces.- Biography :...
announced that the satellite would be unable to fulfil its mission and thus would not be used by Russian defence forces. He added that it might still be possible to use the satellite for "checking control systems." On 1 March the satellite's orientation systems malfunctioned, and the spacecraft moved out of alignment with the Sun, resulting in its solar panels being unable to generate electricity. The spacecraft subsequently began to tumble. Engineers believe that it is unlikely that control will be reestablished.