Kosmos 117 (Russian: Космос 117 meaning Cosmos 117) or Zenit-2 No.39 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 117 was the thirty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 117
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1966-037A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02163
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date6 May 1966, 11:02:00 GMT[2]
RocketVostok-2 s/n N15001-01
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date14 May 1966, 08:24 GMT[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude205 km
Apogee altitude298 km
Inclination65.0°
Period89.5 minutes
Epoch6 May 1966

Kosmos 117 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number N15001-01,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 6 May 1966, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-037A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02163.[1]

Kosmos 117 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 6 May 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 298 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 117 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 08:24 GMT on 14 May 1966 and recovered by Soviet force.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Cosmos 117: Display 1966-037A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Cosmos 117: Trajectory 1966-037A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2014.