The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

[2] Kosmos 2388 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

[6] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 22:06 UTC on 1 April 2002.

[3] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 27409.

[3] It stopped undertaking maneuvers to remain in its orbital position in November 2006[4] and re-entered the atmosphere on 14 September 2011.