# Kosmos 2473

> Russian communication relay satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q6433284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6433284)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_2473)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-2473

## Summary  
Kosmos 2473 is a Russian communication relay satellite launched on September 20, 2011, to support military and governmental communications. Operated by the Russian Space Forces, it was deployed using a Proton-M rocket with a Briz-M space tug, highlighting its role in strategic information transmission.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: September 20, 2011, at 22:47:00 UTC.  
- **Operator**: Russian Space Forces.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-M (Briz-M upper stage).  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2011-048A.  
- **SCN**: 37806.  
- **Class**: Harpoon.  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Kosmos 2473 launched?  
A: Kosmos 2473 was launched on September 20, 2011, at 22:47:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24.  

### Q: Who operates Kosmos 2473?  
A: The satellite is operated by the Russian Space Forces, indicating its military or governmental purpose.  

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Kosmos 2473?  
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Proton-M rocket, equipped with a Briz-M space tug for orbital deployment.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 2473 plays a critical role in Russia’s communication infrastructure, enabling secure and reliable data transmission for military and state operations. As part of the Harpoon-class satellites, it contributes to strategic communication relay capabilities, ensuring connectivity across vast geographic areas. Its launch on a Proton-M rocket underscores Russia’s reliance on heavy-lift vehicles for deploying high-priority spacecraft, reinforcing the nation’s space-based assets for national security and operational coordination.  

## Notable For  
- **Harpoon-Class Membership**: Part of a specialized satellite class designed for communication relay missions.  
- **Proton-M Deployment**: Utilized Russia’s flagship heavy-lift launch vehicle, demonstrating technological continuity with Soviet-era Proton systems.  
- **Baikonur Launch Site**: Launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, a historic hub for Russian space operations.  
- **Military Operation**: Directly supports the Russian Space Forces, emphasizing its national security role.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: September 20, 2011, at 22:47:00 UTC.  
- **Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24 in Kazakhstan.  
- **Vehicle**: Proton-M rocket (Briz-M upper stage).  

### Technical Specifications  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2011-048A (international designation).  
- **SCN**: 37806 (Satellite Catalog Number).  
- **Class**: Harpoon, a Russian communication relay satellite type.  

### Mission and Operations  
- **Operator**: Russian Space Forces, overseeing military satellite activities.  
- **Purpose**: To provide communication relay services for strategic operations, ensuring resilient data links.  
- **Significance**: Represents Russia’s investment in maintaining advanced communication networks for defense and governmental use.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report