Engineering:Kosmos 24

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Kosmos 24
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1963-052A
SATCAT no.00712
Mission duration9 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date19 December 1963
09:21:00 GMT
RocketVostok-2 s/n G15001-03
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date28 December 1963
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude204 km
Apogee altitude391 km
Inclination65.0°
Period90.5 minutes
Epoch19 December 1963
 

Kosmos 24 (Russian: Космос 24 meaning Cosmos 24) or Zenit-2 No.15 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite. It was a first generation, low resolution spacecraft. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 24 was the fifteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[3][4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-03,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 24. The launch took place at 09:28:58 UTC on 19 December 1963, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[6] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-052A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00712.

Kosmos 24 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 19 December 1963, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 391 kilometres (243 mi), with inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.[7] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 28 December 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.

References

  1. "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-052A. 
  2. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1963-052A - 27 February 2020
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/zenit-2.htm. Retrieved 15 December 2013. 
  4. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/zenit2.htm. Retrieved 15 December 2013. 
  5. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/vosk8a92.htm. Retrieved 13 December 2013. 
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 15 December 2013. 
  7. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt. Retrieved 15 December 2013.