Kosmos 461 (Russian: Космос 461 meaning Cosmos 461), also known as DS-U2-MT No.1, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1971 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 680-kilogram (1,500 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used to investigate micrometeoroids and conduct gamma ray astronomy.[2]
| Mission type | Astronomy Micrometeoroids |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1971-105A |
| SATCAT no. | 05643 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U2-MT |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 680 kilograms (1,500 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2 December 1971, 17:30:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk 132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 21 February 1979 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 486 kilometres (302 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 508 kilometres (316 mi) |
| Inclination | 69.2 degrees |
| Period | 94.55 minutes |
Launch edit
A Kosmos-3M carrier rocket, serial number 47119-109, was used to launch Kosmos 461 into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Site 132/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[3] The launch occurred at 17:30:00 UTC on 2 December 1971, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[4]
Orbit edit
Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1971-105A.[5] The North American Aerospace Defense Command assigned it the catalogue number 05643.
Kosmos 461 was the only DS-U2-MT satellite to be launched.[2][6] It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 486 kilometres (302 mi), an apogee of 508 kilometres (316 mi), 69.2 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 94.55 minutes.[7] It completed operations on 14 December 1972,[1] before decaying from orbit and reentering the atmosphere on 21 February 1979.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "World Civil Satellites 1957-2006". Space Security Index. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "DS-U2-MT". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ "Cosmos 461". NSSDC Master Catalog. US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-U2-MT". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
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