Kosmos 919
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 919 also known as DS-P1-I #19 was a satellite
which was used as a radar
target for anti-ballistic missile
tests. It was launched by the Soviet Union
in 1977 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
programme.
It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I
63SM rocket, from Site 133/1
at Plesetsk
. The launch occurred at 10:30 GMT on 18 June 1977. It was the final flight of the Kosmos-2I carrier rocket, and the final flight of an R-12 family rocket. Kosmos
launches continued using the R-14
-derived Kosmos-3M. It also marked the last launch from Plesetsk Site 133/1 until it was rebuilt as Site 133/3 in 1985.
Kosmos 919 was placed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 269 kilometres (167.1 mi), an apogee
of 822 kilometres (510.8 mi), 71 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 95.6 minutes. It decayed
from orbit on 28 August 1978.
Kosmos 919 was the last of nineteen DS-P1-I satellites to be launched. Of these, all reached orbit successfully except the seventh.
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....
which was used as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
target 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. It 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 1977 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.
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*...
63SM rocket, from Site 133/1
Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133
Site 133, also known as Raduga , is a launch complex at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. It is used by Rockot, and previously Kosmos carrier rockets. It consists of a single pad, originally designated 133/1, and later 133/3....
at Plesetsk
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
. The launch occurred at 10:30 GMT on 18 June 1977. It was the final flight of the Kosmos-2I carrier rocket, and the final flight of an R-12 family rocket. 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...
launches continued using the R-14
R-14 Usovaya
The R-14 Chusovaya was a theatre ballistic missile developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was given the NATO reporting name SS-5 Skean and was known by GRAU index 8K65. It was designed by Mikhail Kuzmich Yangel. Chusovaya is the name of a river in Russia...
-derived Kosmos-3M. It also marked the last launch from Plesetsk Site 133/1 until it was rebuilt as Site 133/3 in 1985.
Kosmos 919 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 269 kilometres (167.1 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 822 kilometres (510.8 mi), 71 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 95.6 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...
from orbit on 28 August 1978.
Kosmos 919 was the last of nineteen DS-P1-I satellites to be launched. Of these, all reached orbit successfully except the seventh.