Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Classified Russian spacecraft launched into Earth orbit

Spaceflight Now +

		Subscribe to Spaceflight Now Plus for access to our extensive video collections! How do I sign up? Video archive STS-126: The programs In advance of shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission to the station, managers from both programs discuss the flight. Play STS-126: The mission A detailed preview of Endeavour's mission to deliver expanded crew accommodations to the station is provided in this briefing. Play STS-126: Spacewalks Four spacewalks are planned during Endeavour's STS-126 mission to the station. Play STS-126: The Crew The Endeavour astronauts, led by commander Chris Ferguson, meet the press in the traditional pre-flight news conference. Play Become a subscriber More video

NewsAlert

		Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop. Enter your e-mail address: Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.

Classified Russian spacecraft launched into Earth orbit
BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: November 15, 2008

Russia launched a top secret military satellite Friday in an unannounced flight from the country's northern space base, according to news reports.

A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 1550 GMT (10:50 a.m. EST) Friday. The launcher released the classified satellite payload about nine minutes later.

Russian officials did not provide details of the spacecraft's mission, but the satellite is likely a Kobalt spy satellite with retrievable film canisters that return to Earth.

The satellite was delivered to an orbit with a high point of about 200 miles and a low point of about 110 miles. The orbit's inclination is about 67.2 degrees, according to U.S. tracking data.

Russia is calling the satellite Kosmos 2445 under the military's naming system for defense spacecraft.

Friday's flight was the 58th space launch to reach orbit so far this year. It was the 8th Soyuz rocket launch in 2008.

Expedition 20

The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

Current Shuttle Mission Patch

The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

Ares Patch

The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.

U.S. STORE

One Giant Leap

Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

Expedition 21

The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE