Kosmos 2480

Kosmos 2480
Mission typeReconnaissance satellite
OperatorGRU
COSPAR ID2012-024A
SATCAT no.38335
Start of mission
Launch date17 May 2012, 18:05 (2012-05-17UTC18:05Z) UTC
RocketSoyuz-U
Launch sitePlesetsk 16/2
End of mission
Landing date24 September 2012 (2012-09-25Z) UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth Orbit
Perigee altitude186 kilometres (116 mi)
Apogee altitude255 kilometres (158 mi)
Inclination81.3 degrees
Period88.9 minutes
Epoch17 May 2012

Kosmos 2480 (Russian: Космос 2480 meaning Cosmos 2480) was a Russian Kobalt-M reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 2012 by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. It was the last launch of a Soyuz-U rocket launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

Kosmos 2480 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The last Soyuz-U carrier rocket launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome was used to perform the launch, which took place at 18:05 UTC on 17 May 2012. The launch successfully placed the satellite into low Earth orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 2012-024A. The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 38335.