Kosmos 51
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | VNIIEM |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-080A |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-MT |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 350 kilograms (770 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 9 December 1964, 23:02 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63S1 |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar 86/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 14 November 1965 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 258 kilometres (160 mi) |
| Apogee | 537 kilometres (334 mi) |
| Inclination | 48.8 degrees |
| Period | 92.6 minutes |
Kosmos 51 (Russian: Космос 51 meaning Cosmos 51), also known as DS-MT No.3 was a technology demonstration satellite which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1964 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. Its primary mission was to demonstrate an electric gyrodyne orientation system.[1] It also carried a scientific research package as a secondary payload, which was used to study cosmic rays and the luminosity of space.[1]
It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I 63S1 rocket[2] from Site 86/1 at Kapustin Yar. The launch occurred at 23:02 UTC on 9 December 1964.[3]
Kosmos 51 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 258 kilometres (160 mi), an apogee of 537 kilometres (334 mi), 48.8 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 92.6 minutes.[1] It decayed from orbit on 14 November 1965.[4] Kosmos 51 was the last of three DS-MT satellites to be launched. The first was lost in a launch failure in June 1963, and the second was launched as Kosmos 31 in June 1964.[1][5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Wade, Mark. "DS-MT". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "DS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.