Two SKRL-756 spheres in payloadstack [kosmonavtika.com]
Official name COSMOS 2493 (SKRL 756)
Alternative name SKRL-756 No. 1
Cospar ID 2013-078A
Norad ID 39490
Launch date 2013-12-28
Launch site PKMTR
Launch vehicle Soyuz-2-1v Volga
Country/Organization Russia
Type application Calibration
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 96.05
Inclination (deg) 82.41
Perigee (km) 559
Apogee (km) 580
Eccentricity 0.0184372256365233
Mean motion (revs. per day) 14.9921915668922
Semi-Major axis (km) 6947.635
Raan (deg) 279.2502
Arg of perigee (deg) 110.8474
Shape Sphere
Mass (kg) 50
Height (m) 0.8
Width (m) 0.8
Depth (m) 0.8
Span (m^2) 0.8
Propulsion None

The two Russian SKRL-756 satellites are radar calibration spheres, which were launched on the maiden flight of the Soyuz-2-1v Volga launch vehicle.

The two spheres were side-mounted on a large cylindrical adaptor, which also carries the Aist-1 1 satellite on top.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
COSMOS 2493 (SKRL 756) 2013-078A 2013-12-28 PKMTR Soyuz-2-1v Volga with Aist-1 1, Kosmos 2493 (SKRL-756 2), Ballast
COSMOS 2494 (SKRL 756) 2013-078B 2013-12-28 PKMTR Soyuz-2-1v Volga with Aist-1 1, Kosmos 2492 (SKRL-756 1), Ballast