Kosmos 20
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1963-040A |
| SATCAT no. | 00673 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg [1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 October 1963, 09:36 GMT [1] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n G15001-01 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 1/5 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 26 October 1963 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric [2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 205 km |
| Apogee altitude | 302 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.6 minutes |
| Epoch | 18 October 1963 |
Kosmos 20 (Template:Lang-ru meaning Cosmos 20) or Zenit-2 No.13 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 20 was the thirteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-01,[4] was used to launch Kosmos 20. The launch took place at 09:36 GMT on 18 October 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[5] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-040A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00673.
Kosmos 20 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 18 October 1963, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi) and an apogee of 302 kilometres (188 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.6 minutes. Having spent eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 26 October 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by Soviet forces.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-040B - 27 February 2020
- ^ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1963-040B - 27 February 2020
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
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