Kosmos 20

Kosmos 20 (Russian: Космос 20 meaning Cosmos 20) or Zenit-2 No.13 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 20 was the thirteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched.[3]

Kosmos 20
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
COSPAR ID1963-040A
SATCAT no.00673
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg [1]
Start of mission
Launch date18 October 1963, 09:36:00 GMT
RocketVostok-2 s/n G15001-01
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date26 October 1963
Landing siteSteppe in Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric [2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude205 km
Apogee altitude302 km
Inclination65.0°
Period89.6 minutes
Epoch18 October 1963
 

Spacecraft

Kosmos 20 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for research into radiation in support of the Vostok programme. It had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]

Launch

The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-01,[4] was used to launch Kosmos 20. The launch took place at 09:36:00 GMT on 18 October 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[5] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-040A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00673.

Mission

Kosmos 20 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 18 October 1963, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 302 kilometres (188 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.6 minutes.[2] Having spent eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 26 October 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[6][7]

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See also

References
  1. "Cosmos 20: Display 1963-040A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Cosmos 20: Trajectory 1963-040A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  4. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
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