Kosmos 24 (Russian: Космос 24 meaning Cosmos 24) or Zenit-2 No.15 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite. It was a first generation, low resolution spacecraft. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 24 was the fifteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[3][4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-03,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 24. The launch took place at 09:28:58 UTC on 19 December 1963, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[6] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-052A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00712.
Kosmos 24 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 19 December 1963, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 391 kilometres (243 mi), with inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.[7] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 28 December 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.
References
- ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details".
- ^ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1963-052A - 27 February 2020
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
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