Kosmos 1278

Kosmos 1278 (Russian: Космос 1278 meaning Cosmos 1278) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1981 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors. It self-destructed in December 1986 and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 2 September 2000.

Kosmos 1278

Kosmos 1278 (Russian: Космос 1278 meaning Cosmos 1278) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1981 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors. It self-destructed in December 1986 and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 2 September 2000.