Cosmos 381 (Russian: Космос 381) artificial satellite provided data on the physical characteristics of the layers of the Earth's Ionosphere using a Mayak radio transmitter. The study covered almost the entire global surface.[3]

Kosmos 381
Mission typeIonospheric science
OperatorSoviet space program
COSPAR ID1970-102A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.4783
Mission duration53 years, 11 months, 21 days (in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeIonosfernaya
BusKAUR-1[1]
ManufacturerOKB-10[2]
Launch mass710 kg (1,570 lb)[1][2]
Start of mission
Launch dateDecember 2, 1970, 04:00 UTC
RocketKosmos-3M 11K65M
Launch sitePlesetsk 132/2[1]
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Last contactJanuary 1971[2]
Decay date~3170[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[1]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude961 km (597 mi)
Apogee altitude1,007 km (626 mi)
Inclination74°
Period104.8 minutes

Launch

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The satellite was launched into a Low Earth Orbit by a Kosmos-3 rocket (11K65M) from the LC–132/2 starting point at Plesetsk Cosmodrome on the 2nd of December, 1970.

Orbit

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Orbit was 971km at periapsis and 1013km at apoapsis. Inclination 74 degrees. Decay into the Earth's atmosphere is expected after about 1,200 years.[3]

See also

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  • Űrhajózási lexikon. Chief editor Iván Almár. Budapest: Akadémiai – Zrínyi. 1981. ISBN 963 05 2348 5
  • Lib.Cas

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Mark Wade. "Ionosfernaya". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Gunter D. Krebs. "Ionosfernaya Stantsiya 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Reginald Turnill (1987). Jane's Spaceflight Directory. Vol. 3. Jane's Information Group. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-710-60838-3.