Kosmos 233 (Russian: Космос 233 meaning Cosmos 233), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.15, 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 325 kilograms (717 lb).[1]
| Mission type | ABM radar target |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1968-061A |
| SATCAT no. | 03326 |
| Mission duration | 204 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-P1-Yu |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 325 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 July 1968, 19:59:50 GMT |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Plesetsk, Site 133/3 |
| Contractor | Yuzhnoye |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 7 February 1969 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 198 km |
| Apogee altitude | 1514 km |
| Inclination | 82.0° |
| Period | 102.1 minutes |
| Epoch | 18 July 1968 |
Kosmos 233 was launched from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 18 July 1968 at 19:59:50 UTC, and resulted in Kosmos 233's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-061A.
Kosmos 233 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 198 kilometres (123 mi), an apogee of 1,514 kilometres (941 mi), an inclination of 82.0°, and an orbital period of 102.1 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 7 February 1969.[4] It was the fifteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the fourteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b c d Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
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