Soyuz-U - Cobalt-M (Cosmos-2462), launched April 16, 2010

[Zipi]

Soyuz rocket launches Russian military satellite April 16, 2010

A Soyuz rocket launched a Russian military payload Friday on a secret mission, but observers believe the satellite carries a high-resolution camera to spy on other countries.

The defense satellite launched at 1500 GMT (11 a.m. EDT) Friday aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, according to the Novosti news agency.

U.S. tracking data indicates the Soyuz rocket deployed the payload in an orbit stretching from an altitude of 203 miles to 105 miles. The inclination is about 67.2 degrees.

The parameters closely match the orbits reached by previous Soyuz rockets carrying Kobalt optical reconnaissance satellites.

High-resolution cameras on Kobalt satellites snap pictures of locations around the world. Kobalt spacecraft reportedly carry canisters to return film to Earth during the satellite's mission, which will last at least several months.

The fresh satellite will be named Kosmos 2462 under the Russian military's nomenclature for defense satellites.

Full article: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1004/16soyuz/

SiberianTiger's info collection: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=15273

A couple of images from SiberianTiger's infopack:

 

[EarthlingX]

Sneaky I guess, there was no public live stream for this one

Interesting re-entry capsule.

 

[MeteorWayne]

They're still sending back film in canisters?

Shades of Ice Station Zebra!

 

[EarthlingX]

Probably is most cost effective with what they have available. ESA just started working on the return capsule - Russians have old, probably a couple still somewhere on the stock.

 

[Zipi]

I believe they have still some of these old Cobalt-M satellites on shelf and they simply don't want to waste those...

 

[Zipi]

Short launch clip:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjQ_26FRYx4[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Cosmos 2462 at Heavens-Above: http://www.heavens-above.com/satinfo.aspx?SatID=36511