| Mission type | Early warning |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1997-022A |
| SATCATno. | 24800 |
| 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 | 14 May 1997, 00:33 (1997-05-14UTC00:33Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Molniya-M/2BL[2] |
| Launch site | Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3] |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 2001/2002 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Molniya[2] |
| Perigee altitude | 565 kilometres (351 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 39,791 kilometres (24,725 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 62.8 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.80 minutes[4] |
Kosmos 2342 (Russian:Космос 2342 meaningCosmos 2342) was a RussianUS-K missileearly warning satellite which was launched in 1997 as part of theRussian Space Forces'Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches usingoptical telescopes andinfrared sensors.[2]
Kosmos 2342 was launched fromSite 43/4 atPlesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.[5] AMolniya-M carrier rocket with a2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 00:33 UTC on 14 May 1997.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into amolniya orbit. It subsequently received itsKosmos designation, and theinternational designator 1997-022A.[3] TheUnited States Space Command assigned it theSatellite Catalog Number 24800.[3] The satellite (along withKosmos 2340,Kosmos 2351, andKosmos 2368) were lost after a 2001 fire destroyed the ground control building located at theSerpukhov-15 military base resulting in the loss of orbital control.[6]
