| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-050A |
| SATCAT no. | 02196 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 8 June 1966, 11:02:00 GMT[2] |
| Rocket | Voskhod 11A57 s/n N15001-13 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 16 June 1966, 09:36 GMT[3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 205 km |
| Apogee altitude | 285 km |
| Inclination | 51.8° |
| Period | 89.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 8 June 1966 |
Kosmos 120 (Russian: Космос 120 meaning Cosmos 120) or Zenit-2 No.41 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 120 was the thirty-ninth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
Kosmos 120 was launched by a Voskhod 11A57 serial number N15001-13 carrier rocket,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 8 June 1966,[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-050A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02196.[1] This was the first time a Voskhod had been used to launch a Zenit-2 satellite; previous launches had used Vostok-2 rockets while the Voskhod was typically used to launch Zenit-4 spacecraft.[8]
Kosmos 120 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 8 June 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 285 kilometres (177 mi), an inclination of 51.8° and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 120 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 09:36 GMT on 16 June 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.[3]
- ^ a b "Cosmos 120: Display 1966-050A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Cosmos 120: Trajectory 1966-050A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ a b Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Voskhod 11A57". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Voskhod (11A57)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
