Kosmos 143

Kosmos 143
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1967-017A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02693
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass1730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date27 February 1967
08:45:01 GMT
RocketVostok-2 s/n U15001-03
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date7 March 1967, 05:46 GMT
Landing siteSteppe of Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude204 km
Apogee altitude297 km
Inclination65.0°
Period89.5 minutes
Epoch27 February 1967

Kosmos 143 (Russian: Космос 143 meaning Cosmos 143) or Zenit-2 No.45 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1967. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 143 was the forty-sixth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[3][4] and had a mass of 1,730 kilograms (3,810 lb).[1]

Kosmos 143 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-03,[5] flying from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 08:45:01 GMT on 27 February 1967,[6] and following its arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1967-017A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02693. A minor anomaly during launch resulted in the satellite's orbit being slightly lower than had been planned, with its orbital period being 22.8 seconds shorter than the target orbit.[1] Despite this the satellite performed its mission successfully. The satellite also carried a science package.[1]

Kosmos 143 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 27 February 1967, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 297 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 143 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 05:46 GMT on 7 March 1967, and recovered by Soviet force.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d "Cosmos 143: Display 1967-017A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Cosmos 143: Trajectory 1967-017A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  6. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  7. ^ Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 22 January 2014.