Kosmos 311 (Russian: Космос 311 meaning Cosmos 311), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.27, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1969 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 325-kilogram (717 lb) spacecraft, which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used as a radar calibration target for anti-ballistic missile tests.[1]

Kosmos 311
Mission typeABM radar target
COSPAR ID1969-102A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.04252Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-Yu
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass325 kilograms (717 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date24 November 1969, 11:00:04 (1969-11-24UTC11:00:04Z) UTC
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch sitePlesetsk 133/1
End of mission
Decay date10 March 1970 (1970-03-11)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude263 kilometres (163 mi)
Apogee altitude438 kilometres (272 mi)
Inclination71 degrees
Period91.5 minutes

Launch

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Kosmos 311 was launched from Site 133/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 24 November 1969 at 11:00:04 UTC, and resulted in the successful deployment of Kosmos 311 into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1969-102A.

Kosmos 311 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 263 kilometres (163 mi), an apogee of 438 kilometres (272 mi), 71 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 91.5 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 10 March 1970.[4] It was the twenty-seventh of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the twenty-fifth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 14 August 2009.