Kosmos 12 Explained

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]

Spacecraft

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]

Mission

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.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zenit-2 (11F61). Gunter. Krebs . Gunter's Space Page. 13 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20111231133235/http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/zenit-2.htm. 31 December 2011. dead.
  2. Encyclopedia: Zenit-2. Mark. Wade. Encyclopedia Astronautica. 13 December 2013. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120523064141/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/zenit2.htm. 23 May 2012.
  3. Web site: Cosmos 12: Display 1962-072A. 27 February 2020. nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 25 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Cosmos 12: Trajectory 1962-072A . 27 February 2020. nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 25 April 2020.