| Kosmos 68 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-28 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | OKB-1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1965-046A |
| Satcat: | 1404 |
| Mission Duration: | 8 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg[1] |
| Launch Date: | 15 June 1965, 10:04:00 GMT[2] |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 31/6 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 23 June 1965 |
| Orbit Epoch: | 15 June 1965 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric[3] |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 209 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 315 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 89.8 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-27 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-29 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 67 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 69 |
Kosmos 68 (Russian: Космос 68 meaning Cosmos 68) or Zenit-2 No.28 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 68 was the twenty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4] [5] and had a mass of 4730kg (10,430lb).
Kosmos 68 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-01,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:04 GMT on 15 June 1965,[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1965-046A and the Satellite Catalog Number 01404.
Kosmos 68 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 17 June 1965 it had a perigee of 209km (130miles), an apogee of 315km (196miles), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes. On 23 June 1965, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.[8]