Kosmos 68

Kosmos 68 (Russian: Космос 68 meaning Cosmos 68) or Zenit-2 No.29 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 68 was the twenty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 68
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1965-046A
SATCAT no.01404
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg [1]
Start of mission
Launch date15 June 1965, 10:04:00 GMT [2]
RocketVostok-2 s/n U15001-01
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date23 June 1965
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric [3]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude209 km
Apogee altitude315 km
Inclination65.0°
Period89.8 minutes
Epoch15 June 1965
 

Kosmos 68 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-01,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:04 GMT on 15 June 1965,[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1965-046A and the Satellite Catalog Number 01404.

Kosmos 68 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 17 June 1965 it had a perigee of 209 kilometres (130 mi), an apogee of 315 kilometres (196 mi), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes. On 23 June 1965, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.[8]

References

  1. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-046A - 27 February 2020
  2. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-046A - 27 February 2020
  3. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-046A - 27 February 2020
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  5. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  6. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  7. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  8. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
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