Kosmos 52
Kosmos 52 (Russian: Космос 52 meaning Cosmos 52) or Zenit-2 No.26 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 52 was the twenty-fifth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched [3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-001A |
| SATCAT no. | 00968 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg [1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11 January 1965 09:36:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n R15002-03 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 19 January 1965 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric [2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 203 km |
| Apogee altitude | 298 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.5 minutes |
| Epoch | 11 January 1965 |
Kosmos 52 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-03,[4] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 09:36 GMT on 11 January 1965,[5] with the spacecraft receiving its Kosmos designation - along with the International Designator 1965-001A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00968 - upon its successful insertion into orbit. It was the first satellite to be launched in the year 1965.
Kosmos 52 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 11 January 1965 it had a perigee of 203 kilometres (126 mi), an apogee of 298 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.[6] On 19 January 1965, eight days after launch, Kosmos 52 was deorbited so that its return capsule could be recovered by Soviet forces and its photos developed and analysed.[7]
References
- https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-001A - 27 February 2020
- https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-001A - 27 February 2020
- Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2013.