| Kosmos 15 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-9 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance Radiation Meteorology |
| Operator: | Soviet space program |
| Cospar Id: | 1963-011A |
| Satcat: | 569 |
| Mission Duration: | 5 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg |
| Launch Date: | 22 April 1963, 08:24:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 27 April 1963 |
| Landing Site: | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbit Epoch: | 22 April 1963 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 160 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 358 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 89.8 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-8 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-10 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 14 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 16 |
Kosmos 15 (Russian: Космос 15 meaning Cosmos 15) or Zenit-2 No.9 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 15 was the ninth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[1] [2]
Kosmos 15 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 T15000-08,[4] was used to launch Kosmos 15. The launch took place at 08:24 GMT on 22 April 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[5] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-011A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00569. In addition to reconnaissance, Kosmos 15 carried an experiment package to measure radiation levels in its environment and was also used for meteorological research.
Kosmos 15 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 24 April 1963, it had a perigee of, an apogee of, with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes.[6] Having spent five days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 27 April 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in steppe in Kazakhstan.[7] [2]