Kosmos 64 Explained

Kosmos 64
Names List:Zenit 2-26
Mission Type:Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator:OKB-1
Cospar Id:1965-025A
Satcat:1305
Mission Duration:8 days
Spacecraft Type:Zenit-2
Manufacturer:OKB-1
Launch Mass:4720 kg[1]
Launch Date:25 March 1965, 10:04:00 GMT[2]
Launch Rocket:Vostok-2
Launch Site:Baikonur 31/6
Launch Contractor:OKB-1
Disposal Type:Recovered
Landing Date:2 April 1965
Orbit Epoch:25 March 1965
Orbit Reference:Geocentric[3]
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:201 km
Orbit Apoapsis:267 km
Orbit Inclination:65.0°
Orbit Period:89.2 minutes
Apsis:gee
Programme:Zenit programme
Zenit-2
Previous Mission:Zenit 2-25
Next Mission:Zenit 2-27
Programme2:Kosmos (satellites)
Previous Mission2:Kosmos 63
Next Mission2:Kosmos 65

Kosmos 64 (Russian: Космос 64 meaning Cosmos 64) or Zenit-2 No.26 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 64 was the twenty-sixth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[4] [5] and had a mass of 4720kg (10,410lb).

Kosmos 64 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-06,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:04 GMT on 25 March 1965, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1965-025A and the Satellite Catalog Number 01305.[7]

Kosmos 64 was operated in a low Earth orbit, on 25 March 1965 it had a perigee of 201km (125miles), an apogee of 267km (166miles), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.2 minutes. On 2 April 1965, after eight days in orbit, Kosmos 64 was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.[5]

Notes and References

  1. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-025A - 27 February 2020
  2. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-025A - 27 February 2020
  3. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-025A - 27 February 2020
  4. Web site: Zenit-2 (11F61). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 17 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20111231133235/http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/zenit-2.htm . 31 December 2011. dead.
  5. Encyclopedia: Zenit-2. Mark. Wade. Encyclopedia Astronautica. 17 December 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120523064141/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/zenit2.htm. 23 May 2012.
  6. Encyclopedia: Vostok 8A92. Mark. Wade . Encyclopedia Astronautica. 13 December 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822074413/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/vosk8a92.htm. 22 August 2016.
  7. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-025A - 27 February 2020