Kosmos 202

Kosmos 202
Mission typeTechnology
COSPAR ID1968-010A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.03128
Mission duration33 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-U2-V
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass325 kg [1]
Start of mission
Launch date20 February 1968, 10:03:11 GMT
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch siteKapustin Yar, Site 86/4
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date24 March 1968
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude213 km
Apogee altitude482 km
Inclination48.4°
Period91.5 minutes
Epoch20 February 1968

Kosmos 202 (Russian: Космос 202 meaning Cosmos 202), also known as DS-U2-V No.4, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 325 kilograms (717 lb) spacecraft,[1][3] which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Office, and was used to conduct classified technology development experiments for the Soviet armed forces.[4]

A Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 202 into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar.[5] The launch occurred at 10:03:11 GMT on 20 February 1968, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[6] Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-010A. The North American Air Defense Command assigned it the catalogue number 03128.[1]

Kosmos 202 was the last of four DS-U2-V satellites to be launched.[7] It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 213 kilometres (132 mi), an apogee of 482 kilometres (300 mi), an inclination of 48.4°, and an orbital period of 91.5 minutes.[2] On 24 March 1968, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.[8]

  1. ^ a b c "Cosmos 202: Display 1968-010A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Cosmos 202: Trajectory 1968-010A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "World Civil Satellites 1957-2006". Space Security Index. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  4. ^ Wade, Mark. "DS-U2-V". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  7. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-U2-V". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  8. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 December 2009.