Kosmos 520
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| Mission type | Early warning |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1972-072A |
| SATCAT no. | 06192 |
| Mission duration | 53 years, 3 months, 9 days (in orbit)[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | US-K[2] |
| Launch mass | 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 September 1972, 19:19 UTC |
| Rocket | Molniya-M/2BL[2] |
| Launch site | Plesetsk Cosmodrome[2][3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Molniya[2] |
| Perigee altitude | 741 kilometres (460 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 39,477 kilometres (24,530 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 62.8 degrees[4] |
| Period | 715.03 minutes[4] |
Kosmos 520 (Russian: Космос 520 meaning Cosmos 520) was the first Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite. It was launched in 1972 as part of the Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.[2]
Kosmos 520 was launched from Site 41/1 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union.[2][5] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 19:19 UTC on 19 September 1972.[3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1972-072A.[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 06192.[3]
