Kosmos 277
Kosmos 277 (Russian: Космос 277 meaning Cosmos 277), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.20, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was a 325-kilogram (717 lb) spacecraft, which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1969 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1]
| Mission type | ABM radar target |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1969-033A |
| SATCAT no. | 03855 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-P1-Yu |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 325 kilograms (717 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 4 April 1969, 13:00:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Plesetsk 133/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 6 July 1969 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 256 kilometres (159 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 412 kilometres (256 mi) |
| Inclination | 70.9 degrees |
| Period | 91.2 minutes |
Launch
Kosmos 277 was launched from Site 133/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 4 April 1969 at 13:00:04 UTC, and resulted in Kosmos 277's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1969-033A.
Kosmos 277 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 256 kilometres (159 mi), an apogee of 412 kilometres (256 mi), 70.9 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 91.2 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 6 July 1969.[4] It was the twentieth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the nineteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]
See also
References
- Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 August 2009.