Kosmos 120

Kosmos 120
Mission type Optical imaging
COSPAR ID 1966-050A
SATCAT № 2196
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 8 June 1966, 11:02 UTC[2]
Rocket Voskhod
Launch site Baikonur 31/6
End of mission
Disposal Recovered
Landing date 16 June 1966, 09:36 UTC[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 200 kilometres (120 mi)
Apogee 286 kilometres (178 mi)
Inclination 51.7 degrees
Period 89.36 minutes
Epoch 10 June 1966[4]

Kosmos 120 (Russian: Космос 120 meaning Cosmos 120) or Zenit-2 No.41 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 120 was the thirty-ninth 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 120 was launched by a Voskhod carrier rocket,[7] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 UTC on 8 June 1966,[2] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-050A and the Satellite Catalog Number 2196.[1] This was the first time a Voskhod had been used to launch a Zenit-2 satellite; previous launches had used Vostok-2 rockets while the Voskhod was typically used to launch Zenit-4 spacecraft.[8]

Kosmos 120 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 10 June 1966 it had a perigee of 200 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 286 kilometres (178 mi) inclination of 51.7 degrees and an orbital period of 89.36 minutes.[4] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 120 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 09:36 UTC on 16 June 1966.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Cosmos 120". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Voskhod 11A57". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Voskhod (11A57)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.