| Kosmos 115 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-37 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | OKB-1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1966-033A |
| Satcat: | 2147 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg |
| Launch Date: | 20 April 1966, 10:48:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 31/6 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 28 April 1966, 09:07 GMT |
| Orbit Epoch: | 20 April 1966 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 201 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 294 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 89.3 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-36 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-38 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 114 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 116 |
Kosmos 115 (Russian: Космос 115 meaning Cosmos 115) or Zenit-2 No.37 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 115 was the thirty-seventh of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[1] [2] and had a mass of 4730kg (10,430lb).
Kosmos 115 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket[3] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:48 GMT on 20 April 1966,[4] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-033A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02147.[5]
Kosmos 115 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 22 April 1966, it had a perigee of 201km (125miles), an apogee of 294km (183miles), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.3 minutes.[6] [7] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 115 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 09:07 GMT on 28 April 1966 and the capsule was recovered by Soviet force. There was abnormal operation of a SA-10 camera. Due to a camera malfunction, the satellite failed to take all of the images it had been programmed to produce.[8]