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Today's briefing covers the U.S. Space Force's substantial investments in commercial satellite services, a strategic military shift, Chinese space station upgrades, and NASA's policy changes.
COSMOS 2488 (39483)
COSPAR: 2013-076A | Alt Name: Kosmos-2488
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 25, 2013
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC133/3
Launch Vehicle
Rokot
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
39483
International Designator
2013-076A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:20:02 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
82.48°
Right Ascension
158.06°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
60.15°
Period
115.86 min
Mean Motion
12.43 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
COSMOS 2488
Alternative Name
Kosmos-2488
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
VVKO
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 39483U 13076A 26185.26392324 .00000015 00000-0 33410-4 0 9998
2 39483 82.4844 158.0560 0020819 60.1521 300.1624 12.42906003568012
Source: Celestrak
Summary
COSMOS 2488 (also known as Kosmos-2488) is a military communication satellite built by RESH and operated by VVKO for Russia. It was launched on December 25, 2013, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using the Rokot launch vehicle from Launch Pad LC133/3. The satellite has a cylindrical shape with antennas and measures 1.6 meters in length and 0.8 meters in diameter, with a span of 7 meters due to its solar arrays. It weighs approximately 280 kilograms both at launch and dry mass. COSMOS 2488 is equipped with solar cells and batteries for power generation and carries the Rodnik-S No. 17L payload for military communication purposes. Its radar cross-section (RCS) is 1.5568 m².
Physical Characteristics
Length
1.6
Diameter
0.8
Span
7
Dry Mass
280
Launch Mass
280
Shape
Cyl + Ant
Radar Cross Section
1.5568
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Rodnik-S No. 17L
Purpose
Military Communication
Mission
Military Communication
Manufacturer
RESH
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Strela-3M
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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