Kosmos 16

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Kosmos 16
Mission typeOptical imaging
COSPAR ID1963-012A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.571
Mission duration10 days[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date28 April 1963, 08:49:56 (1963-04-28UTC08:49:56Z) UTC[2]
RocketVostok-2
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date8 May 1963 (1963-05-09)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude195 kilometres (121 mi)
Apogee altitude384 kilometres (239 mi)
Inclination65 degrees
Period90.3 minutes
Epoch30 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. ^ a b c d "Cosmos 16". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)