Kosmos 123

Kosmos 123
Mission type ABM radar target
COSPAR ID 1966-061A
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type DS-P1-Yu
Manufacturer Yuzhnoye
Launch mass 325 kilograms (717 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 8 July 1966, 05:31 UTC
Rocket Kosmos-2I 63S1
Launch site Kapustin Yar 86/1
End of mission
Decay date 10 December 1966
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 253 kilometres (157 mi)
Apogee 490 kilometres (300 mi)
Inclination 48.7 degrees
Period 91.97 minutes

Kosmos 123 (Russian: Космос 123 meaning Cosmos 123), also known as DS-P1-Yu No.5 was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles.[1] It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1966 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[2]

A Kosmos-2I 63S1 carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 123.[3] The launch occurred from Site 86/1 at Kapustin Yar, at 05:31 GMT on 8 July 1966.[4]

Kosmos 123 separated from the carrier rocket into a low Earth orbit with an apogee of 490 kilometres (300 mi), a perigee of 253 kilometres (157 mi), 48.7 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 91.97 minutes.[2][5] It decayed from orbit on 10 December 1966.[5] Kosmos 123 was the sixth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[2] and the fifth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.

See also

References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  4. Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  5. 5.0 5.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2009.