Kosmos 18 (Russian: Космос 18 meaning Cosmos 18) or Zenit-2 No.11 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 18 was the eleventh of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched.[3][4]
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance Radiation |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1963-018A |
| SATCAT no. | 00586 |
| Mission duration | 9 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 May 1963, 10:48:00 GMT[2] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n E15000-12 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 1/5 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 2 June 1963 |
| Landing site | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 196 km |
| Apogee altitude | 288 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 24 May 1963 |
Spacecraft edit
Kosmos 18 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]
Launch edit
The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-12,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 18. The launch took place at 10:48:00 GMT on 24 May 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[1] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-018A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00586.[1]
Mission edit
Kosmos 18 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 24 May 1963, it had a perigee of 196 kilometres (122 mi), an apogee of 288 kilometres (179 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[2] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 2 June 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[4] In addition to its imaging mission, Kosmos 18 was used to conduct measurements of radiation levels in low Earth orbit.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Cosmos 18: Display 1963-018A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Cosmos 18: Trajectory 1963-018A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 26 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 14 December 2013.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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