Kosmos 138

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kosmos 138
Mission type Optical imaging
COSPAR ID 1967-004A
SATCAT № 2646
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 19 January 1967, 12:39:59 (1967-01-19UTC12:39:59Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Vostok-2
Launch site Plesetsk 41/1
End of mission
Disposal Recovered
Landing date 27 January 1967, 06:14 (1967-01-27UTC06:15Z) UTC[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 190 kilometres (120 mi)
Apogee 276 kilometres (171 mi)
Inclination 64.5 degrees
Period 89.16 minutes
Epoch 21 January 1967[4]

Kosmos 138 (Russian: Космос 138 meaning Cosmos 138) or Zenit-2 No.43 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1967. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 138 was the forty-fifth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[5][6] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]

Kosmos 138 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number N15001-05,[7] flying from Site 41/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 12:39:59 UTC on 19 January 1967,[2] and following its arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1967-004A and the Satellite Catalog Number 2646.[1] The satellite reached a slightly lower orbit than had been planned, but was still able to complete its mission.[3]

Kosmos 138 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 21 January 1967 it had a perigee of 190 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 276 kilometres (171 mi) inclination of 64.5 degrees and an orbital period of 89.16 minutes.[4] After 8 days in orbit, Kosmos 138 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 06:14 UTC on 27 January 1967.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Cosmos 138". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  5. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  6. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  7. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.