| Kosmos 13 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-8 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance Radiation |
| Operator: | Soviet space program |
| Cospar Id: | 1963-006A |
| Satcat: | 554 |
| Mission Duration: | 8 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg |
| Launch Date: | 21 March 1963, 08:24:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 29 March 1963 |
| Landing Site: | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbit Epoch: | 21 March 1963 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 192 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 324km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 89.8 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-7 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-9 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 12 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 14 |
Kosmos 13 (Russian: Космос 13 meaning Cosmos 13) or Zenit-2 No.8 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 13 was the eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[1] [2]
Kosmos 13 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 T15000-01,[4] was used to launch Kosmos 13. The launch took place from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 08:24:00 GMT on 21 March 1963. Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-006A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00554.[3]
Kosmos 13 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 23 March 1963 it had a perigee of, an apogee of, with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes.[5] After eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 29 March 1963, with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[5] In addition to its reconnaissance payload, Kosmos 13 also carried an experiment to measure radiation levels in its environment.[2]