NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1982-092A
Cosmos 1408 was a Soviet ELINT (Electronic and Signals Intelligence) Tselina-D satellite launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. It replaced Cosmos 1378. It was designed to determine the precise location, activity, and other details of radio emitters. Data would be stored onboard and downloaded to Soviet ground stations.
On 15 November 2021, Cosmos 1408, no longer operational, was destroyed in a Russian kinetic anti-satellite test, generating a cloud of debris including some 1500 pieces of trackable size.
From 1965 to 1967 two dedicated ELINT systems were tested: the Tselina and the Navy's US. Both reached service, since the Ministry of Defence could not force a single system on the military services.
Tselina was developed by Yuzhnoye and consisted of two satellites: Tselina-O for general observations and Tselina-D for detailed observations. ELINT systems for Tselina were first tested under the Cosmos designation in 1962 to 1965. The first Tselina-O was launched in 1970. The Tselina-D took a long time to enter service due to delays in payload development and weight growth. The whole Tselina system was not operational until 1976. Constant improvement resulted in Tselina-O being abandoned in 1984 and all systems being put on Tselina-D.
Launch Date: 1982-09-16
Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-3
Launch Site: Plesetsk, U.S.S.R
Mass: 2200 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office