Kosmos 48

Kosmos 48
Mission type Optical imaging
COSPAR ID 1964-066A
SATCAT № 908
Mission duration 6 days achieved[1]
~8 days planned
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Zenit-2
Manufacturer OKB-1
Launch mass 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date 14 October 1964, 09:50 (1964-10-14UTC09:50Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Vostok-2
Launch site Baikonur 31/6
End of mission
Disposal Recovered
Landing date 20 October 1964 (1964-10-21)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 203 kilometres (126 mi)
Apogee 282 kilometres (175 mi)
Inclination 65 degrees
Period 89.35 minutes
Epoch 15 October 1964[3]

Kosmos 48 (Russian: Космос 48 meaning Cosmos 48) or Zenit-2 No.24 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 48 was the twenty-third of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]

Kosmos 48 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-01,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 09:50 UTC on 14 October 1964,[2] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-066A and the Satellite Catalog Number 908.[1]

Kosmos 48 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 15 October 1964 it had a perigee of 203 kilometres (126 mi), an apogee of 282 kilometres (175 mi) inclination of 65 degrees and an orbital period of 89.35 minutes. Midway through its planned reconnaissance mission, Kosmos 48's thermal control system malfunctioned, with the temperature inside the spacecraft's pressurised capsule increasing to 43° Celsius.[1] As a result of the malfunction, the spacecraft was deorbited earlier than had been planned, on 20 October 1964 - six days after launch.[3] The return capsule, containing the cameras and film, was successfully recovered by parachute.[1][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cosmos 48". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  5. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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