Kosmos 68
| Mission type | Optical imaging |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1965-046A |
| SATCAT № | 1404 |
| Mission duration | 8 days[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 June 1965, 10:04 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 31/6 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 23 June 1965 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 200 kilometres (120 mi) |
| Apogee | 319 kilometres (198 mi) |
| Inclination | 65 degrees |
| Period | 89.69 minutes |
| Epoch | 17 June 1965[3] |
Kosmos 68 (Russian: Космос 68 meaning Cosmos 68) or Zenit-2 No.29 was a Soviet 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 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]
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 UTC on 15 June 1965,[2] 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 1404.[1]
Kosmos 68 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 17 June 1965 it had a perigee of 200 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 319 kilometres (198 mi) inclination of 65 degrees and an orbital period of 89.7 minutes. On 23 June 1965, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery.[3][5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Cosmos 68". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.