* Astronomy

The Cosmos-2423 satellite was de-orbited on Monday according to Alexei Kuznetsov, a Space Forces spokesman.

"The mission of the Cosmos-2423 satellite was accomplished. The satellite was de-orbited. It ceased to exist and was burnt up in the atmosphere" - Alexei Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov denied media reports that the satellite had malfunctioned.

The Russian military photoreconnaissance satellite Cosmos-2423 satellite has partially broken up in orbit on November 14, 2006, although the satellite is still operational
The U.S. Space Command has managed to count at lest 28 different fragments (NORAD catalogue numbers 29604-29631).
The fragments may be due to the film canister return mechanism aboard the satellite malfunctioning.
The Cosmos-2423 satellite was launched on September 14, 2006, and is the last satellite of the Don (Orlets-1) class.

TLE Data

COSMOS 2423
1 29402U 06039A   06321.75318443  .00257180  71463-5  18281-3 0  2694
2 29402 064.8900 358.1498 0061777 106.6782 008.8408 16.11335386 10312

COSMOS 2423 DEB
1 29604U 06039D   06322.22882643  .11183107  73367-5  41278-2 0    18
2 29604 064.7185 356.6216 0056576 094.3622 266.3410 16.19834497    24

Kosmos 2423 is a optical imaging satellite that can have upto 8 return capsules designed to return the images once they have been required. When the mission is complete the satellite is re-entered into the earths atmosphere.

See more (russian)


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TLE Data

KOSMOS 2423
1 29402U 06039A   06257.76300767  .00008982  71280-5  40591-5 0    31
2 29402 064.9166 233.8747 0109546 066.0514 005.1302 16.11059958    31