Kosmos 222

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Kosmos 222
Mission type ABM radar target
COSPAR ID 1968-044A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 03272
Mission duration134 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type DS-P1-Yu
Manufacturer Yuzhnoye
Launch mass325 kg
Start of mission
Launch date30 May 1968, 20:29:49 GMT
Rocket Kosmos-2I 63SM
Launch site Plesetsk, Site 133/3
Contractor Yuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date11 October 1968
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 285 km
Apogee altitude 488 km
Inclination 71.0°
Period 92.3 minutes
Epoch 30 May 1968


Kosmos 222 (Russian : Космос 222 meaning Cosmos 222), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.12, 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]

Kosmos 222 was launched from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, [2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 30 May 1968 at 20:29:49 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 222's successful deployment into low Earth orbit. [3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-044A.

Kosmos 222 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 285 kilometres (177 mi), an apogee of 488 kilometres (303 mi), an inclination of 71.0°, and an orbital period of 92.3 minutes. [1] [4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 11 October 1968. [4] It was the fourteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched, [1] and the thirteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit. [5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  5. Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.