Kosmos 1903

Kosmos 1903
Mission type Early warning
COSPAR ID 1987-105A
SATCAT № 18701
Mission duration 4 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type US-K [2]
Launch mass 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3]
Start of mission
Launch date 21 December 1987, 22:35 (1987-12-21UTC22:35Z) UTC
Rocket Molniya-M/2BL[2]
Launch site Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Molniya [2]
Perigee 605 kilometres (376 mi)[4]
Apogee 39,746 kilometres (24,697 mi)[4]
Inclination 63.0 degrees[4]
Period 717.72 minutes[4]

Kosmos 1903 (Russian: Космос 1903 meaning Cosmos 1903) is a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1987 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 1903 was launched from Site 41/1 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 22:35 UTC on 21 December 1987.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1987-105A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 18701.[3]

References

  1. Podvig, Pavel (2002). "History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System" (pdf). Science and Global Security. 10: 21–60. doi:10.1080/08929880212328. ISSN 0892-9882.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's Space Page. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cosmos 1903". National Space Science Data Centre. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 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.

See also

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