Kosmos 25
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 25 also known as DS-P1 #4 was a prototype radar target satellite
for anti-ballistic missile
tests, which was launched by the Soviet Union
in 1964 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
programme. Its primary mission was to demonstrate the necessary technologies for radar tracking of spacecraft, which would allow future satellites to function as targets.
It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I
63S1 rocket, from pad 2 of the Mayak Launch Complex at Kapustin Yar
. The launch occurred at 13:26 GMT on 27 February 1964.
Kosmos 25 was placed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 260 kilometres (161.6 mi), an apogee
of 495 kilometres (307.6 mi), 49.1 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 92.1 minutes. It decayed
from orbit on 21 November 1964.
Kosmos 25 was a prototype DS-P1 satellite, the last of four to be launched. Of these, it was the third to successfully reach orbit after Kosmos 6
and Kosmos 19
. It was succeeded by the first operational DS-P1 satellite, Kosmos 36
.
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....
for anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
tests, which was 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 1964 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. Its primary mission was to demonstrate the necessary technologies for radar tracking of spacecraft, which would allow future satellites to function as targets.
It was launched aboard a 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 rocket, 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...
. The launch occurred at 13:26 GMT on 27 February 1964.
Kosmos 25 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 260 kilometres (161.6 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 495 kilometres (307.6 mi), 49.1 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 92.1 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...
from orbit on 21 November 1964.
Kosmos 25 was a prototype DS-P1 satellite, the last of four to be launched. Of these, it was the third to successfully reach orbit after Kosmos 6
Kosmos 6
Kosmos 6 , also known as DS-P1 #1 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 16 was a prototype radar target satellite for anti-ballistic missile tests, which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1962. It was the sixth satellite to be designated under the Kosmos system, and the second spacecraft...
and Kosmos 19
Kosmos 19
Kosmos 19 , also known as DS-P1 #3 was a prototype radar target satellite for anti-ballistic missile tests, which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1963 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme...
. It was succeeded by the first operational DS-P1 satellite, Kosmos 36
Kosmos 36
Kosmos 36 , also known as DS-P1-Yu #1 was a satellite which was used as a radar calibration target, for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was launched by the Soviet Union in 1964 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme...
.