# Cosmos 2287
**Wikidata**: [Q12753700](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753700)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2287

## Summary  
Cosmos 2287 is a Russian GLONASS navigation satellite launched in 1994 to support global positioning and timing services. It was deployed as part of the original GLONASS constellation, a Soviet-era system providing an alternative to GPS. The satellite was launched aboard a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: August 11, 1994, at 15:27:46 UTC.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1994-050A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 23203.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K rocket with a Blok DM-2 upper stage.  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.  
- **Mission Type**: Part of the GLONASS satellite navigation system.  
- **Purpose**: Provide radio-navigation signals for military and civilian use.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Cosmos 2287?  
A: Cosmos 2287 was a navigation satellite designed to transmit radio signals for positioning, navigation, and timing as part of Russia’s GLONASS system.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2287 launched?  
A: It launched on August 11, 1994, at 15:27:46 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23 in Kazakhstan.  

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 2287?  
A: The satellite was launched using a Proton-K carrier rocket with a Blok DM-2 upper stage.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 2287 played a critical role in expanding and maintaining Russia’s GLONASS navigation network, a strategic alternative to the U.S.-led GPS system. As part of the original GLONASS constellation, it contributed to global navigation capabilities, supporting both military operations and civilian infrastructure. The satellite’s deployment underscored Russia’s commitment to space-based navigation during a period of significant geopolitical transition following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its launch also highlighted the reliability of the Proton-K rocket, a workhorse of Soviet and Russian space programs.  

## Notable For  
- **Navigation System**: Part of the original GLONASS satellite family, critical for Russia’s independent positioning network.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Utilized the Proton-K rocket, a cornerstone of Soviet and Russian space launch capabilities.  
- **Deployment Site**: Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, a historic hub for Soviet and Russian space activities.  
- **1994 Expansion**: Contributed to the growth of the GLONASS constellation during a key phase of its development.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
Cosmos 2287 launched on August 11, 1994, at 15:27:46 UTC from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23** in Kazakhstan. The satellite was deployed using a **Proton-K rocket** (GRAU index 11A410), a heavy-lift launch vehicle widely used for Soviet and Russian space missions. The **Blok DM-2** upper stage provided the final thrust to reach orbit.  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1994-050A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 23203.  
- **Mission Type**: GLONASS navigation satellite.  
- **Function**: Transmit L1 and L2 band signals for positioning, navigation, and timing.  

### Mission Context  
The satellite was part of the first-generation GLONASS constellation, designed to provide global coverage with 24 operational satellites. Cosmos 2287 operated in a circular medium Earth orbit (MEO) at approximately 19,100 km altitude, inclined at 64.8 degrees. Its deployment supported Russia’s efforts to achieve full operational capability for GLONASS, which was declared complete in 1995.  

### Legacy  
While specific operational details about Cosmos 2287’s lifespan are not provided in the source material, its launch marked a routine but essential contribution to the GLONASS system. The satellite’s designation and launch parameters align with standard practices for GLONASS deployments during the 1990s, reflecting the system’s gradual expansion amid post-Soviet economic challenges.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report