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Russian Space ForcesSoyuz 2.1b43/4 (43R), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550)

Launched

June 25, 2021

Launch Successful

Image: Roscosmos

Summary

Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) launched on a Russian Space Forces Soyuz 2.1b from 43/4 (43R), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation on June 25, 2021. It was Russian Space Forces's 117th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 6,096th orbital launch attempt. It was the 11th Soyuz 2.1b flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Kosmos-2550, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 202 × 473 km orbit inclined 67.1°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.

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Vehicle
Soyuz 2.1b · Russian Space Forces
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
11th Soyuz 2.1b flight · 2nd this yearRussian Space Forces's 117th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 6,096th orbital launch attempt59th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

67.1°Inclination
202 × 473 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
91.1 minPeriodfrom mean elements
197.8°Ascending node
1938 d agoElement epoch2021-06-25 22:55 UTC · stale

Kosmos-2550 · NORAD 48865 · 2021-056 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2021-056A
Epoch
2021-06-25 22:55:57 UTC
Mean motion
15.80081142 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.020223
Inclination
67.1353°
Ascending node
197.7963°
Arg. of perigee
92.1158°
Mean anomaly
337.3939°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit

  • Kosmos-2550 · NORAD 48865 · in orbit

Soyuz-2-1b Blok-I · re-entered July 26, 2021

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The Russian Pion-NKS (14F139) satellites are the naval component of the next generation ELINT satellite system Liana. As a replacement for both the passive ELINT US-PM and the active radar US-A, they carry both ELINT sensors as well as an active radar.

Pad

Map of 43/4 (43R)

43/4 (43R), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

305th launch from 43/4 (43R), 2nd this year · 1,643rd from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

329 launches from this pad · 1,688 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

142 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian FederationOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success confirmed

spacevogel · Jun 25, 2021 · source

Show 4 earlier updates

  • spacevogel · 6/25/2021 · source

  • New launch time.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/24/2021 · source

  • NOTAMs issued.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/21/2021 · source

  • Added launch per TASS report, drop zones and insider sources (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36678.msg2253618#msg2253618).

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/18/2021 · source

Questions

When did Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) launch?

Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) launched on June 25, 2021. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550)?

Coverage: Пуск ракеты-носителя «Союз-2» с космодрома Плесецк. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550)?

Soyuz 2.1b, flown by Russian Space Forces. Soyuz 2.1b spec sheet

Where did Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) launch from?

43/4 (43R), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation.

What orbit did Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) reach?

Kosmos-2550, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 202 × 473 km orbit inclined 67.1°.

How many satellites did Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550) launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).