Kosmos 459

Kosmos 459
Mission typeASAT target
COSPAR ID1971-102A
SATCAT no.05625
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-M
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass650 kilograms (1,430 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date29 November 1971, 17:30:00 (1971-11-29UTC17:30Z) UTC
RocketKosmos-3M
Launch sitePlesetsk 132/1
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude199 kilometres (124 mi)
Apogee altitude286 kilometres (178 mi)
Inclination65 degrees
Period89.4 minutes

Kosmos 459 (Russian: Космос 459 meaning Cosmos 459), also known as DS-P1-M No.5 was a satellite which was used as a target for tests of anti-satellite weapons. It was launched by the Soviet Union in 1971 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme, and used as a target for Kosmos 462, as part of the Istrebitel Sputnikov programme.