| Kosmos 12 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-7 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | Soviet space program |
| Harvard Designation: | 1962 Beta Omega 1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1962-072A |
| Satcat: | 517 |
| Mission Duration: | 8 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg |
| Launch Date: | 22 December 1962 09:21:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 30 December 1962 |
| Landing Site: | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbit Epoch: | 22 December 1962 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 198 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 392 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 90.5 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-6 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-8 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 11 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 13 |
Kosmos 12 (Russian: Космос 12 meaning Cosmos 12) or Zenit-2 No.7 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 12 was the seventh of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[1] [2]
Kosmos 12 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 .[3]
The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number T15000-10, was used to launch Kosmos 12. The launch took place from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 09:21:00 GMT on 22 December 1962. Following its successful arrival in orbit, the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the Harvard designation 1962 Beta Omega 1, the International Designator 1962-072A, and the Satellite Catalog Number 00517.[3]
Kosmos 12 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 22 December 1962, it had a perigee of, an apogee of, with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.[4] On 30 December 1962, the spacecraft was deorbited, with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.