Kosmos 18

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kosmos 18
Mission type Optical imaging
COSPAR ID 1963-018A
SATCAT № 586
Mission duration 9 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 24 May 1963, 10:34:06 (1963-05-24UTC10:34:06Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Vostok-2
Launch site Baikonur 1/5
End of mission
Disposal Recovered
Landing date 2 June 1963 (1963-06-03)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 203 kilometres (126 mi)
Apogee 278 kilometres (173 mi)
Inclination 64.9 degrees
Period 89.31 minutes
Epoch 30 May 1963[3]

Kosmos 18 (Russian: Космос 18 meaning Cosmos 18) or Zenit-2 No.11 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 18 was the eleventh of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]

A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-12,[6] was used to launch Kosmos 18. The launch took place at 10:34:06 UTC on 24 May 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[2] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-018A and the Satellite Catalog Number 586.[1]

Kosmos 18 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 30 May 1963 it had a perigee of 203 kilometres (126 mi), an apogee of 278 kilometres (173 mi), with inclination of 64.9 degrees and an orbital period of 89.31 minutes.[3] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 2 June 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by Soviet forces.[5] In addition to its imaging mission, Kosmos 18 was used to conduct measurements of radiation levels in low Earth orbit.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Cosmos 18". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 14 December 2013. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 14 December 2013. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 14 December 2013. 
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 14 December 2013. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 14 December 2013. 
  6. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013. 
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.