Yantar-4K2M (Russian: Янтарь meaning amber), also known as Kobalt-M, was a type of Russian reconnaissance satellite and the last operational member of the Yantar series of satellites. In common with most Yantar satellites, the Kobalt-M used film rather than digital cameras. This film could not be sent to Earth as easily as digital data.
The Kobalt-M was an improved version of the Kobalt satellite and the first one was launched as Kosmos 2410 in 2004. It returned three sets of film during its mission. The first two landed in film return canisters (called SpK - Spuskayemaya Kapsula) and a final set of film returned in the satellite's special equipment module.[1][2][3][4] Image resolution is reportedly 30 cm.[4]
Ten satellites of this series were launched, the last one in 2015. No further orders were planned. Further reconnaissance missions were taken over by the Persona-class satellites.[4]
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
