Kosmos 2251

Kosmos 2251
A Strela-2M communication satellite, similar to Kosmos 2251.
Mission typeMilitary communication
OperatorVKS
COSPAR ID1993-036A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.22675
Mission duration5 years (nominal mission)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeStrela-2M
BusKAUR-1
ManufacturerReshetnev
Launch mass900 kg
Start of mission
Launch date16 June 1993, 04:17 UTC
RocketKosmos-3M
Launch sitePlesetsk, Site 132/1
End of mission
Last contact1995
Decay date10 February 2009
(destroyed in space)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude783 km
Apogee altitude821 km
Inclination74.0°
Period101.0 minutes
 

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.· The Strela satellites had a lifespan of 5 years, and the Russian government reported that Kosmos-2251 ceased functioning in 1995. 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) not required to do so under international law. In any case, the KAUR-1 satellites had no propulsion system, which is usually required for deorbiting.

Destruction

At 16:56 UTC on 10 February 2009, it collided with Iridium 33 (1997-051C), an Iridium satellite, 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. NASA reported that a large amount of debris was produced by the collision.

See also


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