Figure 5: 354 pieces of Cosmos 2251 debris are plotted to 35 minutes after the collision. Notice how the debris seems to spread out more than the Iridium 33 debris. Earth and orbit imagery by Analytical Graphics Inc. Figure 6: 153 known pieces of debris from the Iridium 33 satellite...
The activity of these satellites could be monitored via a characteristic CW beacon emitted on a frequency of 153.660 MHz. On 10 February 2009 at approximately 16:56 UT the Cosmos 2251 satellite collided with Iridium 33 (1997-051C). The collision took place at about 800 km altitude. ...
Interestingly enough, the average volume yields an almost identical size of 12.33 cm radius for the Cosmos 2251 debris and 12.45 cm radius for the Iridium 33 debris (likely a result of the limiting sensitivity of the radar sensors in the US Space Surveillance Network). The average masses are ...
COSMOS 2251 DEBTrack COSMOS 2251 DEB now! 10-day predictions NORAD ID: 34054 Int'l Code: 1993-036JR Perigee: 466.6 km Apogee: 503.1 km Inclination: 74.0 ° Period: 94.2 minutes Semi major axis: 6855 km RCS: 0.028 m2 (small) Launch date: June 16, 1993 ...