# Cosmos 2406
**Wikidata**: [Q12907656](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907656)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2406

## Summary
Cosmos 2406 is a signals intelligence satellite launched by Russia in 2004 as part of the Tselina-2 class, designed to monitor electronic communications. It was deployed using a Zenit-2 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, marking a continuation of Soviet-era surveillance capabilities.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 10, 2004
- **COSPAR ID**: 2004-021A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 28352
- **Class**: Tselina-2 (Soviet signals intelligence satellite model)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Zenit-2 (Ukrainian-Russian rocket)
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45
- **Mission Type**: Electronic surveillance and signals intelligence gathering

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 2406?
A: Cosmos 2406 was a signals intelligence satellite tasked with monitoring electronic communications and radar signals as part of Russia's military surveillance network.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2406 launched?
A: It launched on June 10, 2004, at 01:28:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45 in Kazakhstan.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2406?
A: The satellite was deployed using a Zenit-2 rocket, a Ukrainian-Russian launch vehicle derived from the earlier Zenit series.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2406 represents a key component of Russia's post-Soviet signals intelligence infrastructure, continuing the Tselina-2 program's role in electronic surveillance. Its launch underscored the ongoing reliance on Zenit-class rockets for military satellite deployments, highlighting the collaboration between Ukrainian and Russian space industries. As part of a series designed to detect and analyze electronic emissions, Cosmos 2406 played a critical role in strategic military monitoring, ensuring continuity in capabilities amid geopolitical shifts following the Soviet dissolution.

## Notable For
- **Tselina-2 Class Membership**: Part of a Soviet-designed satellite series focused on signals intelligence.
- **Zenit-2 Rocket Deployment**: Utilized a rocket with Ukrainian-Russian heritage, reflecting post-Soviet space cooperation.
- **Baikonur Launch Site**: Launched from a historic Soviet-era cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
- **Electronic Surveillance Role**: Contributed to Russia's ability to monitor communications and radar activity globally.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: June 10, 2004, at 01:28:00 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle**: Zenit-2 (serial number not specified)
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45 (a facility with Soviet origins in Kazakhstan)

### Satellite Specifications
- **Identifier**: COSPAR ID 2004-021A, SCN 28352
- **Class**: Tselina-2 (a second-generation signals intelligence satellite developed by the Soviet Union)
- **Mission Type**: Electronic intelligence (ELINT) gathering, including radar and communication signal detection

### Mission Purpose
Cosmos 2406 was designed to intercept and analyze electronic emissions from military and civilian sources, providing strategic intelligence to Russian defense forces. As part of the Tselina-2 series, it replaced older Tselina satellites with improved sensors and data transmission capabilities.

### Legacy
The satellite's launch demonstrated the continued utility of the Zenit-2 rocket for military payloads, despite the decline of the Soviet space program. Cosmos 2406 operated as part of a constellation of Tselina-2 satellites, ensuring continuous coverage of global electronic activity. Its deployment underscored Russia's commitment to maintaining robust surveillance capabilities in the post-Cold War era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report