Kosmos 16

Kosmos 16
Mission type Optical imaging
COSPAR ID 1963-012A
SATCAT № 571
Mission duration 10 days[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Zenit-2
Manufacturer OKB-1
Launch mass 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date 28 April 1963, 08:49:56 (1963-04-28UTC08:49:56Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Vostok-2
Launch site Baikonur 1/5
End of mission
Disposal Recovered
Landing date 8 May 1963 (1963-05-09)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 195 kilometres (121 mi)
Apogee 384 kilometres (239 mi)
Inclination 65 degrees
Period 90.3 minutes
Epoch 30 April 1963[3]

Kosmos 16 (Russian: Космос 16 meaning Cosmos 16) or Zenit-2 No.10 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 16 was the tenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]

A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-02,[6] was used to launch Kosmos 16. The launch took place at 08:49:56 UTC on 28 April 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[2] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-012A and the Satellite Catalog Number 571.[1]

Kosmos 16 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 30 April 1963 it had a perigee of 195 kilometres (121 mi), an apogee of 384 kilometres (239 mi), with inclination of 65 degrees and an orbital period of 90.3 minutes. A malfunction of the spacecraft's attitude control system resulted in the satellite being able to return only some of the images which it had been programmed to produce.[5] After ten days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 8 May 1963.[3] Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by Soviet forces.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cosmos 16". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  6. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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