Kosmos 15
Names
Zenit 2-9
Mission type
Optical imaging reconnaissance
Radiation
Meteorology
Operator
Soviet space program
569
Mission duration
5 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type
Manufacturer
Launch mass
4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date
22 April 1963, 08:24:00 GMT
Rocket
Launch site
Contractor
OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal
Recovered
Landing date
27 April 1963
Landing site
Steppe in Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference system
Regime
160 km
358 km
65.0°
89.8 minutes
22 April 1963
Kosmos 15 (Russian: Космос 15 meaning Cosmos 15) or Zenit-2 No.9 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 15 was the ninth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[3][4]
Kosmos 15 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for research into radiation in support of the Vostok programme. It had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]
The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number T15000-08,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 15. The launch took place at 08:24 GMT on 22 April 1963, using 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 1963-011A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00569. In addition to reconnaissance, Kosmos 15 carried an experiment package to measure radiation levels in its environment and was also used for meteorological research.
Kosmos 15 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 24 April 1963, it had a perigee of 160 kilometres (99 mi), an apogee of 358 kilometres (222 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes.[2] Having spent five days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 27 April 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in steppe in Kazakhstan.[7][4]
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in (brackets).
Zenit-2
Zenit-2M
(Gektor)
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