Kosmos 129
Soviet reconnaissance satellite
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Kosmos 129 (Russian: Космос 129 meaning Cosmos 129) or Zenit-2 No.33 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 129 was the forty-second of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[3][4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]
| Mission type | Optical imaging recpnnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-091A |
| SATCAT no. | 02491 |
| Mission duration | 7 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 October 1966 12:14:00 GMT[2] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n U1500-05 |
| Launch site | Plesetsk, Site 41/1 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 21 October 1966, 06:14 GMT |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 180 km |
| Apogee altitude | 312 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 14 October 1966 |
Kosmos 129 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U1500-05,[5] flying from Site 41/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 12:14 GMT on 14 October 1966, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-091A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02491.[1]
Kosmos 129 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 14 October 1966, it had a perigee of 180 kilometres (110 mi), an apogee of 312 kilometres (194 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[2] After seven days in orbit, Kosmos 129 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 06:14 GMT on 21 October 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.[6]
