Kosmos 6
Encyclopedia
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 launched as part of the DS programme to successfully reach orbit, after Kosmos 1
. 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 the first solar-powered
satellite manufactured by Yuzhnoye
.
It was launched aboard the seventh flight of the Kosmos-2I
63S1 rocket. The launch was conducted from pad 2 of the Mayak Launch Complex at Kapustin Yar
, and occurred at 16:00 GMT on 30 June 1962.
Kosmos 6 was placed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 261 kilometres (162.2 mi), an apogee
of 348 kilometres (216.2 mi), 48.90 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 90.6 minutes. It decayed
on 8 September 1962.
Kosmos 6 was a prototype DS-P1 satellite, the first of four to be launched,. Of the other three satellites, one was lost in a launch failure, and the remaining two successfully reached orbit as Kosmos 19
and Kosmos 25
.
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 1962. It was the sixth 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 second spacecraft launched as part of the DS programme to successfully reach orbit, after Kosmos 1
Kosmos 1
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...
. 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 the first solar-powered
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
satellite manufactured by Yuzhnoye
Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
Yuzhnoye Design Bureau , located in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, is a designer of satellites and rockets, and formerly of Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles established by Mikhail Yangel. Yuzhnoye's OKB designation was OKB-586....
.
It was launched aboard the seventh flight of the 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. 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 16:00 GMT on 30 June 1962.
Kosmos 6 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 261 kilometres (162.2 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 348 kilometres (216.2 mi), 48.90 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 90.6 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 8 September 1962.
Kosmos 6 was a prototype DS-P1 satellite, the first of four to be launched,. Of the other three satellites, one was lost in a launch failure, and the remaining two successfully reached orbit as 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...
and Kosmos 25
Kosmos 25
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...
.