Kosmos 12
Soviet reconnaissance satellite (Zenit 2-7)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kosmos 12 (Russian: Космос 12 meaning Cosmos 12) or Zenit-2 No.7 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 12 was the seventh of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.[3][4]
A Zenit reentry capsule | |
| Names | Zenit 2-7 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| Harvard designation | 1962 Beta Omega 1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1962-072A |
| SATCAT no. | 517 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 22 December 1962 09:21:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 30 December 1962 |
| Landing site | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 198 km |
| Apogee altitude | 392 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 90.5 minutes |
| Epoch | 22 December 1962 |
Zenit programme Zenit-2 | |
Spacecraft
Kosmos 12 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for research into radiation in support of the Vostok programme. It had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]
Mission
The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number T15000-10, was used to launch Kosmos 12. The launch took place from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 09:21:00 GMT on 22 December 1962. Following its successful arrival in orbit, the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the Harvard designation 1962 Beta Omega 1, the International Designator 1962-072A, and the Satellite Catalog Number 00517.[1]
Kosmos 12 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 22 December 1962, it had a perigee of 198 kilometres (123 mi), an apogee of 392 kilometres (244 mi), with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.[2] On 30 December 1962, the spacecraft was deorbited, with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.
