Kosmos 901 (Russian: Космос 901 meaning Cosmos 901), also known as DS-P1-I No.18 was a satellite which was used as a radar target for anti-ballistic missile tests. It was launched by the Soviet Union in 1977 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1]

Kosmos 901
Mission typeABM radar target
COSPAR ID1977-025A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.09905Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-I
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass400 kilograms (880 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 April 1977, 10:30 (1977-04-05UTC10:30Z) UTC
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch sitePlesetsk 133/1
End of mission
Decay date28 June 1978 (1978-06-29)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude269 kilometres (167 mi)
Apogee altitude820 kilometres (510 mi)
Inclination71 degrees
Period95.5 minutes

It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I 63SM rocket,[2] from Site 133/1 at Plesetsk. The launch occurred at 10:30 UTC on 5 April 1977.[3]

Kosmos 901 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 269 kilometres (167 mi), an apogee of 820 kilometres (510 mi), 71 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 95.5 minutes.[1] It decayed from orbit on 28 June 1978.[4]

Kosmos 901 was the eighteenth of nineteen DS-P1-I satellites to be launched.[1] Of these, all reached orbit successfully except the seventh.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-I". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "DS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.