Kosmos 18

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]

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