Kosmos 124

Kosmos 124
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1966-064A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02325
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date14 July 1966, 10:33:00 GMT
RocketVoskhod 11A57 s/n N15001-14
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date22 July 1966, 09:22 GMT[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[3]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude205 km
Apogee altitude286 km
Inclination51.8°
Period89.4 minutes
Epoch16 July 1966

Kosmos 124 (Russian: Космос 124 meaning Cosmos 124) or Zenit-2 No.42 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 124 was the fortieth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).[1]

Kosmos 124 was launched by a Voskhod 11A57 rocket with serial number N15001-14,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:33 GMT on 14 July 1966,[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-064A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02325.

Kosmos 124 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 14 July 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 286 kilometres (178 mi), an inclination of 51.8°, and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes. After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 124 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 09:22 GMT on 22 July 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Cosmos 124: Display 1966-064A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Cosmos 124: Trajectory 1966-064A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Voskhod 11A57". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.