| Major contractors | Yuzhnoye |
|---|---|
| Bus | DS-P1-Yu |
| Mission type | ABM radar target |
| Launch date | 24 May 1968 07:04:50 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 |
| Orbital decay | 31 August 1969 |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-043A |
| Mass | 250 kilograms (550 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Inclination | 48.4° |
| Apoapsis | 2,011 kilometres (1,250 mi) |
| Periapsis | 214 kilometres (133 mi) |
| Orbital period | 107.5 minutes |
Kosmos 221 (Russian: Космос 221 meaning Cosmos 221), also known as DS-P1-Yu #14, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1] It had a mass of 250 kilograms (550 lb).[1]
Kosmos 221 was launched from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 24 May 1968 at 07:04:50 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 221's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-043A.
Kosmos 221 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 214 kilometres (133 mi), an apogee of 2,011 kilometres (1,250 mi), 48.4 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 107.5 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 31 August 1969.[4] It was the thirteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the twelfth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]