| Kosmos 98 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-31 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | OKB-1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1965-097A |
| Satcat: | 1780 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg[1] |
| Launch Date: | 27 November 1965 08:24:00 GMT[2] |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 31/6 |
| Disposal Type: | Recovered |
| Landing Date: | 5 December 1965 |
| Orbit Epoch: | 27 November 1965 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric[3] |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 205 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 547 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 65.0° |
| Orbit Period: | 92.0 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-30 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-32 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 97 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 99 |
Kosmos 98 (Russian: Космос 98 meaning Cosmos 98) or Zenit-2 No.31 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 98 was the thirty-first of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4] [5] and had a mass of 4730kg (10,430lb).
Kosmos 98 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-05,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 08:24 GMT on 27 November 1965 and following the satellite's successful arrival in orbit it received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1965-097A and the Satellite Catalog Number 01780.
Kosmos 98 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 27 November 1965, it had a perigee of 205km (127miles), an apogee of 547km (340miles), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 92.0 minutes. On 5 December 1965, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by the Soviet Force.[7] [5]