Kosmos 50

Kosmos 50 (Russian: Космос 50 meaning Cosmos 50) or Zenit-2 No.25 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 50 was the twenty-fourth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 50
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1964-070A
SATCAT no.00919
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg [1]
Start of mission
Launch date28 October 1964
10:48:00 GMT [2]
RocketVostok-2 s/n R15002-02
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalSelf-destructed
Destroyed5 November 1964
Decay date8–17 November 1964
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric [3]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude190 km
Apogee altitude230 km
Inclination51.3°
Period88.7 minutes
Epoch28 October 1964
 

Kosmos 50 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-02,[5] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:48 GMT on 28 October 1964, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-070A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00919.

Kosmos 50 was operated in a low Earth orbit, it had a perigee of 190 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 230 kilometres (140 mi), an inclination of 51.3° and an orbital period of 88.7 minutes. On 5 November 1964, after eight days in orbit, an attempt was made to deorbit the satellite so that its photographs could be developed and analysed. After its retrorockets failed to fire, the satellite was commanded to self-destruct to ensure it could not fall into enemy hands. Ninety-five pieces of debris were catalogued, which decayed from orbit between 8 and 17 November.

References

  1. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-070A - 27 February 2020
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  3. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1964-070A - 27 February 2020
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  5. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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