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Kosmos 120

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Kosmos 120
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1966-050A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02196
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date8 June 1966, 11:02:00 GMT[2]
RocketVoskhod 11A57 s/n N15001-13
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date16 June 1966, 09:36 GMT[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude205 km
Apogee altitude285 km
Inclination51.8°
Period89.4 minutes
Epoch8 June 1966

Kosmos 120 (Russian: Космос 120 meaning Cosmos 120) or Zenit-2 No.41 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 120 was the thirty-ninth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 120 was launched by a Voskhod 11A57 serial number N15001-13 carrier rocket,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 8 June 1966,[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-050A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02196.[1] This was the first time a Voskhod had been used to launch a Zenit-2 satellite; previous launches had used Vostok-2 rockets while the Voskhod was typically used to launch Zenit-4 spacecraft.[8]

Kosmos 120 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 8 June 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 285 kilometres (177 mi), an inclination of 51.8° and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 120 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 09:36 GMT on 16 June 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Cosmos 120: Display 1966-050A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Cosmos 120: Trajectory 1966-050A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Voskhod 11A57". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  8. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Voskhod (11A57)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.