Kosmos 221

Kosmos 221
Mission typeABM radar target
COSPAR ID1968-043A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.03269
Mission duration464 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-Yu
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass400 kg
Start of mission
Launch date24 May 1968, 07:04:50 GMT
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch siteKapustin Yar, Site 86/4
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date31 August 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude218 km
Apogee altitude2086 km
Inclination48.4°
Period108.3 minutes
Epoch24 May 1968

Kosmos 221 (Russian: Космос 221 meaning Cosmos 221), also known as DS-P1-Yu No.14, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1] It had a mass of 400 kilograms (880 lb).[1]

Kosmos 221 was launched from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 24 May 1968 at 07:04:50 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 221's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-043A.

Kosmos 221 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 218 kilometres (135 mi), an apogee of 2,086 kilometres (1,296 mi), an inclination of 48.4°, and an orbital period of 108.3 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 31 August 1969.[4] It was the thirteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the twelfth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.