# Kosmos 2286

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3398025](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3398025)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_2286)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-2286

## Summary
Kosmos 2286 was a Russian military early warning satellite launched on August 5, 1994. As part of the Soviet and Russian US-K series, its primary objective was to detect missile launches. It was deployed into orbit using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Kosmos 2286 is an instance of the US-K class of satellites, a series dedicated to early warning operations.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on August 5, 1994.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to space using a Molniya-M rocket, a Soviet space launcher.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designator is 1994-048A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under SCN 23194.
- **Launch Timing:** The specific launch event took place at 01:12:21 UTC.
- **Alternative Names/IDs:** The entity is also identified by the Freebase ID `/m/0jwzfkx` and the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "23194"]`.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is Kosmos 2286?
A: Kosmos 2286 is a Russian military satellite belonging to the US-K series (Oko), designed specifically for early warning detection systems.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 2286 launched?
A: It was launched on August 5, 1994, at 01:12:21 UTC, using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.

### Q: What is the US-K series mentioned in relation to this satellite?
A: The US-K series is a class of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites to which Kosmos 2286 belongs. This series is historically significant for its role in space-based detection.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 2286 serves as a representative example of the Russian Federation's continued reliance on Soviet-era space technology for national defense during the 1990s. As a US-K satellite, it formed a critical part of the infrastructure designed to provide early warning against ballistic missile attacks, a strategic necessity for major military powers.

The launch highlights the operational longevity of the Molniya-M rocket, a workhorse of the Soviet and Russian space programs. Furthermore, the satellite's deployment from Plesetsk Cosmodrome underscores the site's primary role in military launches. By maintaining these systems, Russia ensured the continuity of its space-based surveillance capabilities during a period of significant geopolitical transition.

## Notable For
- Being a specific **instance of the US-K early warning satellite class**, a key component of Russian strategic defense.
- Utilizing the **Molniya-M launch vehicle**, a widely used Soviet-era rocket.
- Launching from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16**, a significant location for space defense operations.
- Serving as a military asset identified by the specific **COSPAR ID 1994-048A** and **SCN 23194**.

## Body
### Mission and Classification
Kosmos 2286 is designated as a Russian military early warning satellite. It is classified structurally and functionally as an instance of the **US-K** series (often referred to by the reporting name "Oko"). The US-K series consists of Soviet and Russian satellites developed to detect missile launches via infrared sensors.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on **August 5, 1994**. The mission was executed from the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16**, a major launch complex used for military satellites.
*   **Rocket:** The launch vehicle used was the **Molniya-M**, a four-stage rocket derived from the R-7 Semyorka family, frequently used for military and lunar/interplanetary missions during the Soviet era.
*   **Event Specifics:** The significant event— the rocket launch— occurred at precisely **01:12:21** UTC.

### Technical Identifiers
To track the object in space catalogs and databases, Kosmos 2286 is associated with the following identifiers:
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1994-048A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 23194
*   **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "23194"]`
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0jwzfkx

### Documentation and References
Data regarding Kosmos 2286 is corroborated by multiple references, including the English, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian Wikipedia language editions (sitelink count: 5). Structured data is derived from Wikidata and academic sources cited in the provided knowledge base.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report