Kosmos 2441

Kosmos 2441 (Russian: Космос 2441 meaning Cosmos 2441), also known as Persona No.1, was a Russian optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 2008. The first Persona satellite, it failed a few months into its mission, which was scheduled to have lasted three to five years. It was the first Russian reconnaissance satellite to be placed into a sun-synchronous orbit.[3]

Kosmos 2441
Artist's impression of a Persona satellite
Mission typeReconnaissance
OperatorVKS
COSPAR ID2008-037A
SATCAT no.33272
Mission duration3-5 years (planned)
~2 months (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typePersona
ManufacturerTsSKB Progress
LOMO
Vavilov State Optical Institute
NPO Opteks
Launch mass~7,000 kilograms (15,000 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date26 July 2008, 18:31:36 (2008-07-26UTC18:31:36Z) UTC
RocketSoyuz-2-1b
Launch sitePlesetsk 43/4
End of mission
Last contact~September 2008 (2008-10)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Perigee altitude714 kilometres (444 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude732 kilometres (455 mi)[2]
Inclination98.3 degrees[2]
Epoch31 July 2008[2]
 

Kosmos 2441 was launched by a Soyuz-2-1b carrier rocket flying from Site 43/4 of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 18:31:36 UTC on 26 July 2008,[4] and marked the first Soyuz-2-1b launch from Plesetsk. Following its successful deployment the satellite was given its Kosmos designation, and was assigned the International Designator 2008-037A and Satellite Catalog Number 33272.[5]

In February 2009, it was reported that Kosmos 2441 had failed shortly after launch.[6] The date of the failure was not announced, however the satellite was last seen to manoeuvre in September 2008.[7] The cause of the failure was reported to be an electrical problem, possibly caused by higher radiation levels encountered by the satellite in sun-synchronous orbit compared to previous satellites in lower-inclination orbits.[6] The next Persona satellite was not launched until 2013, when it was placed into orbit as Kosmos 2486.[8]

References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "Persona (14F137)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan (12 August 2008). "Issue 598". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  3. Podvig, Pavel (26 July 2008). "Launch of Cosmos-2441 - first Persona optical reconnaissance satellite". RussianForces.org.
  4. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  6. Zak, Anatoly. "Persona (14F137) spy satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  7. Podvig, Pavel (13 February 2009). "Persona satellite failure". RussianForces.org. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. Podvig, Pavel (7 June 2013). "Launch of Cosmos-2486 - Persona optical reconnaissance satellite". RussianForces.org. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
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