Kosmos 16
Kosmos 16 (Russian: Космос 16 meaning Cosmos 16) or Zenit-2 No.10 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 16 was the tenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched.[3][4]
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1963-012A |
| SATCAT no. | 00571 |
| Mission duration | 10 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg [1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 April 1963, 09:36:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n E15000-02 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 1/5 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 8 May 1963 |
| Landing site | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric [2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 194 km |
| Apogee altitude | 388 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 90.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 28 April 1963 |
Spacecraft
Kosmos 16 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
The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-02,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 16. The launch took place at 09:36:00 GMT on 28 April 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-012A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00571.[1]
Kosmos 16 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 30 April 1963, it had a perigee of 194 kilometres (121 mi), an apogee of 388 kilometres (241 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 90.4 minutes.[2] A malfunction of the spacecraft's attitude control system resulted in the satellite being able to return only some of the images, due to the failure of the engine block stabilisation system.[1] After ten days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 8 May 1963.[6] Its return capsule descended under a parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.
See also
References
- "Cosmos 16: Display 1963-012A". 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. - "Cosmos 16: Trajectory 1963-012A". 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.
- Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.