Kosmos 2251
Defunct Russian military communications satellite, operational from 1993 to 1995
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Kosmos-2251 (Russian: Космос-2251 meaning Cosmos 2251) was a Russian Strela-2M military 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.[3][4] The Strela satellites had a lifespan of 5 years, and the Russian government reported that Kosmos-2251 ceased functioning in 1995.[5] Russia was later criticised by The Space Review for leaving a defunct satellite in a congested orbit, rather than deorbiting it. In response, Russia noted that they were (and are)[6] not required to do so under international law.[7][8] In any case, the KAUR-1 satellites had no propulsion system, which is usually required for deorbiting.[9][10]
A Strela-2M communication satellite, similar to Kosmos 2251. | |
| Mission type | Military communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | VKS |
| COSPAR ID | 1993-036A |
| SATCAT no. | 22675 |
| Mission duration | 5 years (nominal mission) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Strela-2M |
| Bus | KAUR-1[1] |
| Manufacturer | Reshetnev |
| Launch mass | 900 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 June 1993, 04:17 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk, Site 132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 1995 |
| Decay date | 10 February 2009 (destroyed in orbit) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 783 km |
| Apogee altitude | 821 km |
| Inclination | 74.0° |
| Period | 101.0 minutes |
Destruction
At 16:56 UTC on 10 February 2009,[11] it collided with Iridium 33 (1997-051C), an Iridium satellite,[12] 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.[13] NASA reported that a large amount of debris was produced by the collision.[14][15]
