Kosmos 7 Explained

Kosmos 7
Names List:Zenit 2-4
Sputnik 17
Mission Type:Optical imaging reconnaissance
Radiation
Operator:Soviet space program
Harvard Designation:1962 Alpha Iota 1
Cospar Id:1962-033A
Satcat:346
Spacecraft Type:Zenit-2
Manufacturer:OKB-1
Launch Mass:4610 kg
Launch Date:28 July 1962, 09:18:31 GMT
Launch Rocket:Vostok-2
Launch Site:Baikonur Site 1/5
Launch Contractor:OKB-1
Disposal Type:Recovered
Landing Date:1 August 1962
Landing Site:Kazakhstan
Orbit Epoch:28 July 1962
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:197 km
Orbit Apoapsis:356 km
Orbit Inclination:64.95°
Orbit Period:90.1 minutes
Apsis:gee
Programme:Zenit programme
Zenit-2
Previous Mission:Zenit 2-3
Next Mission:Zenit 2-5
Programme2:Kosmos (satellites)
Previous Mission2:Kosmos 6
Next Mission2:Kosmos 8

Kosmos 7 (Russian: Космос 7 meaning Cosmos 7), also known as Zenit-2 No.4 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 17 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was the seventh satellite to be designated under the Kosmos system, and the second successful launch of a Soviet reconnaissance satellite.[1]

Spacecraft

Kosmos 7 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights. It also marked the first successful launch of a Vostok-2, on the second attempt. It had a mass of . The first Vostok-2 launch, also carrying a Zenit-2 satellite, suffered an engine failure seconds after launch on 1 June 1962, fell back to earth and exploded within of the launch pad.

Kosmos 7 was one of a series of Soviet Earth satellites whose purpose was to study outer space, the upper layers of the atmosphere, and the Earth. Scientific data and measurements were relayed to Earth by multichannel telemetry systems equipped with space-borne memory units.

Mission

Vostok-2, s/n T15000-07, was used to launch Kosmos 7.[2] The launch was conducted from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and occurred at 09:18:31 GMT on 28 July 1962.[3] Kosmos 7 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, an inclination of 64.95°, and an orbital period of 90.1 minutes.[4] It conducted a four-day mission, before being deorbited and landing by parachute on 1 August 1962, and recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[5]

It was the second Zenit-2 to reach orbit, the first being Kosmos 4. The next Zenit-2 launch will be Kosmos 9.[1] In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for radiation measurements made for safety during the flight of the Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 spacecraft.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zenit-2. Wade. Mark. Encyclopedia Astronautica. 2009-05-23. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120523064141/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/zenit2.htm. 2012-05-23.
  2. Web site: Launch Log. McDowell . Jonathan. Jonathan's Space Page. 2009-05-23.
  3. Web site: Soyuz. Wade. Mark. Encyclopedia Astronautica. 2009-05-23. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100107163113/http://astronautix.com/lvs/soyuz.htm. 2010-01-07.
  4. Web site: Cosmos 7: Trajectory 1962-033A. 27 February 2020. nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 23 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Satellite Catalog. McDowell. Jonathan. Jonathan's Space Page. 2009-05-23.
  6. Web site: Cosmos 7: Display 1962-033A. 27 February 2020. nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 23 April 2020.