| Mission type | Reconnaissance satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | GRU |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-024A |
| SATCATno. | 38335 |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 May 2012, 18:05 (2012-05-17UTC18:05Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Soyuz-U |
| Launch site | Plesetsk16/2 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 24 September 2012 (2012-09-25Z) UTC[1] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth Orbit[2] |
| Perigee altitude | 186 kilometres (116 mi)[2] |
| Apogee altitude | 255 kilometres (158 mi)[2] |
| Inclination | 81.3 degrees |
| Period | 88.9 minutes |
| Epoch | 17 May 2012[2] |
Kosmos 2480 (Russian:Космос 2480 meaningCosmos 2480) was a RussianKobalt-M reconnaissance satellite[3] which was launched in 2012 by theRussian Aerospace Defence Forces. It was the last launch of aSoyuz-U rocket launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[4]
Kosmos 2480 was launched fromSite 16/2 atPlesetsk Cosmodrome. The lastSoyuz-U carrier rocket launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome was used to perform the launch, which took place at 18:05 UTC on 17 May 2012. The launch successfully placed the satellite intolow Earth orbit. It subsequently received itsKosmos designation, and theinternational designator 2012-024A.[5] TheUnited States Space Command assigned it theSatellite Catalog Number 38335.[6]
Kobalt-M satellites are a type ofYantar satellite, Yantar-4K2M. They have theGRAU index 11F695M. They are opticalreconnaissance satellites which usefilm. The satellite sends two film capsules to earth and returns to earth itself at the end of its mission.[7] This has the disadvantage that the satellite's life is dependent on how much film it can carry, and information from the satellite is not obtained until the film canister has returned to earth and been developed.[8]
The satellite returned to Earth on 24 September 2012.[1]
The previous satellite of this class,Kosmos 2472, was launched on 27 June 2011 and returned to Earth on 24 October 2011.[9]
