Kosmos 1
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 1 also known as DS-2 #1 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 11 was a technology demonstration and ionospheric
research satellite
launched by the Soviet Union
in 1962. It was the first satellite to be designated under the Kosmos
system, and the first spacecraft launched as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
programme to successfully reach orbit
. Its primary missions were to measure the performance of its carrier rocket
, and to conduct research into the ionosphere.
It was launched on Kosmos-2I
63S1 s/n
6LK. It was the third flight of the Kosmos-2I, and the first to successfully reach orbit. It was also the first Kosmos
rocket of any type to successfully place a satellite into orbit. The launch was conducted from pad 2 of the Mayak Launch Complex at Kapustin Yar
, and occurred at 11:59 GMT on 16 March 1962. Kosmos 1 was placed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 207 kilometres (128.6 mi), an apogee
of 649 kilometres (403.3 mi), 49 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 93.1 minutes. It decayed
on 25 May.
Kosmos 1 was a DS-2
satellite, the first of two to be launched. The second was launched on 1 December 1964, but did not reach orbit after the payload fairing
of the rocket carrying it failed to separate. The DS-2 was a scaled down version of the earlier DS-1 satellite, lacking an avionics
system, which was built after the first two DS-1 spacecraft failed to reach orbit.
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
research satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
launched by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1962. It was the first satellite to be designated under the Kosmos
Cosmos (satellite)
Kosmos is a designation given to a large number of satellites operated by the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia. Kosmos 1, the first spacecraft to be given a Kosmos designation, was launched on March 16, 1962....
system, and the first spacecraft launched as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik , also known as DS, was a series of satellites launched by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1982. DS satellites were used for a number of missions, including technological and scientific research, and radar tracking targets for anti-satellite weapons and anti-ballistic...
programme to successfully reach orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
. Its primary missions were to measure the performance of its carrier rocket
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
, and to conduct research into the ionosphere.
It was launched on Kosmos-2I
Kosmos-2I
Kosmos-2I is the designation applied to two Soviet carrier rockets, members of the R-12 family, which were used to orbit satellites between 1961 and 1977. They were superseded by the R-14 derived Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M.-References:* http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/koss63s1.htm*...
63S1 s/n
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
6LK. It was the third flight of the Kosmos-2I, and the first to successfully reach orbit. It was also the first Kosmos
Kosmos (rocket family)
The Kosmos rockets are a series of Soviet and subsequently Russian rockets, derived from the R-12 and R-14 missiles, the most well known of which is the Kosmos-3M, which has made over 440 launches, and is still in service...
rocket of any type to successfully place a satellite into orbit. The launch was conducted from pad 2 of the Mayak Launch Complex at Kapustin Yar
Kapustin Yar
Kapustin Yar is a Russian rocket launch and development site in Astrakhan Oblast, between Volgograd and Astrakhan. Known today as Znamensk , it was established 13 May 1946 and in the beginning used technology, material, and scientific support from defeated Germany...
, and occurred at 11:59 GMT on 16 March 1962. Kosmos 1 was placed into a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with a perigee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 207 kilometres (128.6 mi), an apogee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 649 kilometres (403.3 mi), 49 degrees of inclination
Inclination
Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction.-Orbits:The inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit...
, and an orbital period
Orbital period
The orbital period is the time taken for a given object to make one complete orbit about another object.When mentioned without further qualification in astronomy this refers to the sidereal period of an astronomical object, which is calculated with respect to the stars.There are several kinds of...
of 93.1 minutes. It decayed
Orbital decay
Orbital decay is the process of prolonged reduction in the altitude of a satellite's orbit.This can be due to drag produced by an atmosphere due to frequent collisions between the satellite and surrounding air molecules. The drag experienced by the object is larger in the case of increased solar...
on 25 May.
Kosmos 1 was a DS-2
DS-2
Zuken’s DS-2 is a modular and scalable electronic product lifecycle management solution that has been developed specifically for electrical and electronics design applications. The Windows-based DS-2 platform was introduced in 2004, and was preceded by Zuken's DS-1 system for electronic product...
satellite, the first of two to be launched. The second was launched on 1 December 1964, but did not reach orbit after the payload fairing
Payload fairing
Payload fairing is one of the main components of a launch vehicle. The fairing protects the payload during the ascent against the impact of the atmosphere . More recently, an additional function is to maintain the cleanroom environment for precision instruments.Outside the atmosphere the fairing is...
of the rocket carrying it failed to separate. The DS-2 was a scaled down version of the earlier DS-1 satellite, lacking an avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
system, which was built after the first two DS-1 spacecraft failed to reach orbit.