Cosmos 2505

Launch data: Designation  40667 / 15027A Launch date  05 June 2015 - 15:23 UT Launch site  Plesetsk, LC-43/4 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-2-1A Mission  Reconnaissance, photo (film return type), Imaging Satellite type  Yantar-4K2M #10, Kobalt-M #10 Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  177 x 285 km Eccentricity   Inclination  81.4 deg Period   min

Description:

• The satellites were launched from Plesetsk, typically into a 170 km by 370 km orbit with inclinations between 62.8° and 67.2°. For the last two launches the launch vehicle was replaced by a Soyuz-2, as the former Soyuz-U could no longer be launched from Plesetsk. The satellite could maneuver to inspect areas of interest. Film was returned in the two small capsules and at the end of the mission in the main capsule. The typical landing area was near Orenburg. Mission durations were from 76 to 130 days. The return capsules could be reused up to three times.
• The Kobalt-M series is to be phased out in 2015, with the electro-optical Persona satellites taking over.

Mission details:

• On Jun 5, 2015 Russia launched the Kobal´t-M No. 565 spy satellite, given the codename Cosmos-2505. The initial orbit of 177 x 285 km x 81.4 deg was boosted on Jun 8 and 13 to 203 x 264 km. The Kobal´t-M is the latest version of the 1970s Yantar´ spy satellite series and returns its main section, with film and camera, to Earth at the end of its flight.
  It also carries two small ejectable film canisters which can return some data to Earth during the mission.