Kosmos 13 (Russian: Космос 13 meaning Cosmos 13) or Zenit-2 No.8 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 13 was the eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[3][4]
 A Zenit reentry capsule | |
| Names | Zenit 2-8 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance Radiation |
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| COSPAR ID | 1963-006A |
| SATCAT no. | 554 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 21 March 1963, 08:24:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 29 March 1963 |
| Landing site | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 192 km |
| Apogee altitude | 324km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.8 minutes |
| Epoch | 21 March 1963 |
Zenit programme Zenit-2 | |
Spacecraft
editKosmos 13 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for research into radiation in support of the Vostok programme. It had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]
Mission
editThe Vostok-2 rocket, serial number T15000-01,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 13. The launch took place from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 08:24:00 GMT on 21 March 1963.[2] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-006A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00554.[1]
Kosmos 13 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 23 March 1963 it had a perigee of 192 kilometres (119 mi), an apogee of 324 kilometres (201 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 29 March 1963, with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[2] In addition to its reconnaissance payload, Kosmos 13 also carried an experiment to measure radiation levels in its environment.[4]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c "Cosmos 13: Display 1963-006A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d "Cosmos 13: Trajectory 1963-006A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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