Kosmos 2050 (Russian: Космос 2050 meaning Cosmos 2050) is a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1989 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]

Kosmos 2050
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1989-091A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.20330
Mission duration4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K[2]
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date23 November 1989, 20:35 (1989-11-23UTC20:35Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya [2]
Perigee altitude610 kilometres (380 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude39,751 kilometres (24,700 mi)[4]
Inclination63.0 degrees[4]
Period717.92 minutes[4]

Kosmos 2050 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian SSR.[5] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 20:35 UTC on 23 November 1989.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1989-091A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 20330.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 10 (1): 21–60. Bibcode:2002S&GS...10...21P. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882. S2CID 122901563. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 2050". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2 May 2012.