COSMOS 2278
NORAD 23087
Payload
LEO
1994-023A
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
838 km
Apogee
851 km
Inclination
71.0°
Period
101.8 min
Mean Motion
14.14379207 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-03-17 14:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude845 km
Orbital Velocity26,757 km/h
Velocity7.43 km/s
Orbital Period102 minutes
Orbits / Day14.14
Eccentricity0.0009
Semi-Major Axis7,216 km
Est. Orbital Lifetime~100–500 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇷🇺 Russia (CIS)
Launch Date
1994-04-23
Launch Site
Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Int'l Designator
1994-023A
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
🔗 Constellation / Groups
visual
📖 About This Object
COSMOS 2278 is an active satellite operated by Russia (CIS), launched on 1994-04-23 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. With over 32 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 838 km and 851 km with an inclination of 71.0°. It travels at approximately 26,757 km/h (7.43 km/s), completing one full orbit every 102 minutes — that’s roughly 14.14 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 2278 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
COSMOS 2278 occupies the mid-LEO band between 600 and 1,000 km, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains low. This altitude range balances orbital longevity (decades to centuries) with reasonable ground coverage, making it popular for remote sensing constellations, scientific instruments and weather satellites. Debris concerns are significant here because objects persist far longer than in lower orbits.
🔗 Cosmos (Military/Government) Series
This satellite carries the Cosmos designation, used by Russia (and formerly the Soviet Union) as a generic identifier for military and government spacecraft. The Cosmos series encompasses reconnaissance, signals intelligence (SIGINT), early warning, navigation, communications and scientific payloads. Many Cosmos satellites have classified missions with limited publicly available information.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
COSMOS 2278 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 838 km (perigee) and 851 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 845 km. It completes one orbit every 102 minutes, travelling at approximately 26,757 km/h (16,626 mph).
COSMOS 2278 is operated by Russia (CIS). It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 23087. You can track COSMOS 2278 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
COSMOS 2278 was launched on 1994-04-23 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility, located in Kazakhstan. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~100–500 years.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 2278 (NORAD ID 23087) using the latest TLE (two-line element set) data from Space-Track and CelesTrak. Open the live tracker to see its current position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated in real time.
COSMOS 2278 travels at approximately 26,757 km/h (16,626 mph) — roughly 7.43 km/s. It completes 14.14 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 28 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.