Kosmos 50

Kosmos 50

Mission type	Optical imaging
COSPAR ID	1964-070A
SATCAT №	919
Mission duration	8 days[1]
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	28 October 1964, 10:48 UTC[2]
Rocket	Vostok-2
Launch site	Baikonur 31/6
End of mission
Disposal	Self-destructed
Destroyed	5 November 1964
Decay date	8–17 November 1964
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee	187 kilometres (116 mi)
Apogee	232 kilometres (144 mi)
Inclination	51.2 degrees
Period	88.69 minutes
Epoch	29 October 1964[3]

Kosmos 50 (Russian: Космос 50 meaning Cosmos 50) or Zenit-2 No.25 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 50 was the twenty-fourth 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 50 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-02,^[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:48 UTC on 28 October 1964,^[2] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-070A and the Satellite Catalog Number 919.^[1]

Kosmos 50 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 29 October 1964 it had a perigee of 187 kilometres (116 mi), an apogee of 232 kilometres (144 mi) inclination of 51.2 degrees and an orbital period of 88.69 minutes.^[3] On 5 November 1964, after eight days in orbit, an attempt was made to deorbit the satellite so that its photographs could be developed and analysed. After its retrorockets failed to fire, the satellite was commanded to self-destruct to ensure it could not fall into enemy hands.^[1][5] Ninety-five pieces of debris were catalogued, which decayed from orbit between 8 and 17 November.^[3]

References

1. "Cosmos 50". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
3. 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. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
6. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.