| Kosmos 120 | |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | OKB-1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1966-050A |
| Satcat: | 02196 |
| Mission Duration: | 8 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg |
| Launch Date: | 8 June 1966, 11:02:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Voskhod 11A57 s/n N15001-13 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 16 June 1966, 09:36 GMT |
| Orbit Epoch: | 8 June 1966 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 205 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 285 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 51.8° |
| Orbit Period: | 89.4 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
Kosmos 120 (Russian: Космос 120 meaning Cosmos 120) or Zenit-2 No.41 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 120 was the thirty-ninth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[1] [2] and had a mass of .
Kosmos 120 was launched by a Voskhod 11A57 serial number N15001-13 carrier rocket,[3] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 8 June 1966,[4] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-050A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02196.[5] This was the first time a Voskhod had been used to launch a Zenit-2 satellite; previous launches had used Vostok-2 rockets while the Voskhod was typically used to launch Zenit-4 spacecraft.[6]
Kosmos 120 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 8 June 1966, it had a perigee of 205km (127miles), an apogee of 285km (177miles), an inclination of 51.8° and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[7] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 120 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 09:36 GMT on 16 June 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.[8]