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This article contains orbital elements but does not include an epoch, or date when those elements, which typically vary over time, were correct. Please help by adding the epoch for the current data, or changing the orbital elements to ones with a known epoch. |
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | VKS |
| COSPAR ID | 1993-036A |
| SATCAT № | 22675 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Strela-2M |
| Manufacturer | Reshetnev |
| Launch mass | 900 kilograms (2,000 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 June 1993, 04:17 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk 132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Destroyed | 10 February 2009, 16:56 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 778 kilometres (483 mi) |
| Apogee | 803 kilometres (499 mi) |
| Inclination | 74.00 degrees |
| 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 UTC on 16 June 1993, by a Kosmos-3M carrier rocket.[1][2]
Destruction[]
Main article: 2009 satellite collision
At 16:56 UTC 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.[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. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20090216044137/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.
The original article can be found at Kosmos 2251 and the edit history here.