Kosmos 18

Kosmos 18 (Russian: Космос 18 meaning Cosmos 18) or Zenit-2 No.11 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 18 was the eleventh of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched.[3][4]

Kosmos 18
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
Radiation
COSPAR ID1963-018A
SATCAT no.00586
Mission duration9 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg [1]
Start of mission
Launch date24 May 1963, 10:48:00 GMT [2]
RocketVostok-2 s/n E15000-12
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date2 June 1963
Landing siteSteppe in Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric [2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude196 km
Apogee altitude288 km
Inclination65.0°
Period89.4 minutes
Epoch24 May 1963
 

Spacecraft

Kosmos 18 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]

Launch

The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-12,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 18. The launch took place at 10:48:00 GMT on 24 May 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[1] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-018A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00586.[1]

Mission

Kosmos 18 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 24 May 1963, it had a perigee of 196 kilometres (122 mi), an apogee of 288 kilometres (179 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[2] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 2 June 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[4] In addition to its imaging mission, Kosmos 18 was used to conduct measurements of radiation levels in low Earth orbit.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Cosmos 18: Display 1963-018A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Cosmos 18: Trajectory 1963-018A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  4. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  5. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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