| Mission type | Uncrewed lunar spacecraft |
|---|---|
| Operator | GSMZ Lavochkin |
| COSPAR ID | 1967-046A |
| SATCAT no. | 02805 |
| Mission duration | 179 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | E-6LS |
| Manufacturer | GSMZ Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 1640 kg [1] |
| Dry mass | 1136 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 May 1967, 21:43:57 GMT |
| Rocket | Molniya-M s/n N15001-58 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 1/5 |
| Contractor | TsSKB-Progress |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 11 November 1967 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Elliptic Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 350 km |
| Apogee altitude | 60637 km |
| Inclination | 51.8° |
| Period | 1174.0 minutes |
| Epoch | 16 May 1967 |
Kosmos 159 (Russian: Космос 159, meaning Cosmos 159), E-6LS No.111, was one of many satellites designed during the Soviet space program given the designation Kosmos. This satellite was specifically designed to be a high orbit satellite used to gain information on trajectory anomalies caused by the Moon's gravitational pull. This data would have been vital to the Soviet space program and could have been key in successful crewed missions to the Moon. This mission was also used to test radio communications in space.[3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Siddiqiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Trajectorywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Zelenyi, L. M., A. V. Zakharov, and O. V. Zakutnyaya. "Will the Lunar Renaissance Come Forth?" Solar System Research 45.7, 2011, pp. 697-704, ProQuest, 15 April 2016.