* Astronomy

Cosmos 2379 a Russian geosynchronous early-warning/reconnaissance satellite that was launched by a Proton-K rocket with a DM-2 final stage from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 24 August 2001 appears to be drifting from its prescribed orbital location at 24° West.
This maybe a controlled transfer to a different parking orbit. Or it is maybe due to the fact that the satellite usually has only a operational lifetime of six years; so the relocation may be the start of a deorbit manoeuvre.
The military satellite has heat-sensing detectors to provide an early warning of missiles launched from the United States; and is one of two Russian early-warning satellites still in operation.
Cosmos-2422, launched in July 2006, will be the only operational early-warning satellite if Cosmos-2379 is deorbited.

TLE Data

COSMOS 2379
1 26892U 01037A   07252.65034399  .00000069  00000-0  10000-3 0  8058
2 26892 003.2263 076.4830 0023205 186.3169 325.2018 01.00592390 22126

Expand (122kb, 854 x 558)

Perigee: 35789 kms
Apogee: 35606 km
Inclination: 3.17 °
Period: 1431.53 min