Kosmos 31
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | VNIIEM |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-028A |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-MT |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 325 kilograms (717 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 6 June 1964, 06:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63S1 |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar Mayak-2 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 20 October 1964 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 221 kilometres (137 mi) |
| Apogee | 485 kilometres (301 mi) |
| Inclination | 48.9 degrees |
| Period | 91.7 minutes |
Kosmos 31 (Russian: Космос 31 meaning Cosmos 31), also known as DS-MT No.2 was a technology demonstration satellite which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1964 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. Its primary mission was to demonstrate an electric gyrodyne orientation system.[1] It also carried a scientific research package as a secondary payload, which was used to study cosmic rays.[1]
It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I 63S1 rocket[2] from pad 2 of the Mayak Launch Complex at Kapustin Yar. The launch occurred at 06:00 UTC on 6 June 1964.[3]
Kosmos 31 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 221 kilometres (137 mi), an apogee of 485 kilometres (301 mi), 48.9 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 91.7 minutes.[1] It decayed from orbit on 20 October 1964.[4] Kosmos 31 was the second of three DS-MT satellites to be launched. The first was lost in a launch failure in June 1963, and the third was Kosmos 51, which was launched in December 1964.[1][5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Wade, Mark. "DS-MT". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "DS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
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