Kosmos 2470
Kosmos 2470 ( meaning Cosmos 2470), also known as Geo-IK-2 No.11, was a Russian geodesy satellite launched in 2011. The first Geo-IK-2 satellite, it was intended to be used to create a three-dimensional map of the Earth's surface, and to monitor plate tectonics. The satellite was produced by ISS Reshetnev, and has a mass of around . It was intended to operate in a circular orbit at an altitude of around above the Earth's surface; however, it was placed into a lower than planned orbit after its launch failed. A second Geo-IK-2 satellite was successfully launched on June 4, 2016, as Kosmos 2517. History Geo-IK-2 No.11 was launched by a Rokot rocket with a Briz-KM upper stage. The launch took place from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, at 14:00 UTC on 1 February 2011. The Rokot performed as expected, and the Briz-KM made the first of two burns to place the satellite into its operational orbit. When the second burn was scheduled to begin, the Briz-KM failed to reignite, leaving the spacecraft in its transfer orbit. Controllers were unable to make contact with the satellite after launch as had been expected, although a day after launch they were able