- Kosmos 2251
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Kosmos-2251 (Cosmos 2251) Operator VKS Major contractors Reshetnev Bus Strela-2M Mission type Communication Satellite of Earth Launch date 16 June 1993 Carrier rocket Kosmos-3M Launch site Plesetsk Site 132/1 COSPAR ID 1993-036A Mass 900 kg Orbital elements Regime Low Earth orbit Inclination 74.00 degrees Apoapsis 803 km Periapsis 778 km Orbital period 100.70 minutes Kosmos-2251, (Russian: Космос-2251 meaning Cosmos 2251), was a Russian Strela-2M communications satellite. It was launched into Low Earth orbit from Site 132/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 04:17 GMT on 16 June 1993, by a Kosmos-3M carrier rocket.[1][2]
Destruction
Main article: 2009 satellite collisionAt 16:56 GMT on 10 February 2009,[3] it collided with Iridium 33, an Iridium satellite,[4] in the first major collision of two satellites in Earth orbit. The Iridium satellite, which was operational at the time of the collision, was destroyed, as was Kosmos-2251. The Kosmos satellite was launched in 1993. [5] NASA reported that a large amount of debris was produced by the collision.[6][7]
References
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Strela-2M". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/strela2m.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/kosmos3.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ Iannotta, Becky (2009-02-11). "U.S. Satellite Destroyed in Space Collision". Space.com. http://www.space.com/news/090211-satellite-collision.html. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ "Office for Outer Space Affairs". United Nations. http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/search.do?internationalDesignatorCrit=1993-036A&stateOrganizationCrit=RU. Retrieved 2009-02-12. "Reported as colliding with Iridum 33 (1997-051C) on 10/02/2009"
- ^ "Russian and US satellites collide". BBC News. 2009-02-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7885051.stm. Retrieved 2009-02-12. "Russia has not commented on claims that the satellite was out of control."
- ^ "2 orbiting satellites collide 500 miles up". Associated Press. 2009-02-11. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grGfFhzFgjxK46MQHTwD1RgRUwCAD969LB802. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ "U.S. Space debris environment and operational updates". NASA. 2011-02-07. http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2011/tech-31.pdf. Retrieved 201-08-25.
Categories:- Communications satellites in low Earth orbit
- 1993 in spaceflight
- Space accidents and incidents
- Kosmos satellites
- Artificial satellites formerly orbiting Earth
- Derelict satellites orbiting Earth
- Communications satellite stubs
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