| Mission type | Scientific |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1968-033A |
| SATCAT no. | 03205 |
| Mission duration | 73 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U1-A |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 400 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 April 1968, 22:29:52 GMT |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar, Site 86/4 |
| Contractor | Yuzhnoye |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 6 June 1968 |
| Decay date | 30 June 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 255 km |
| Apogee altitude | 403 km |
| Inclination | 48.5° |
| Period | 91.1 minutes |
| Epoch | 18 April 1968 |
Kosmos 215 (Russian: Космос 215 meaning Cosmos 215), also known as DS-U1-A No.1, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 385-kilogram (849 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used to study radiation and conduct optical observations of the atmosphere of the Earth. It was equipped with eight telescopes,[1][2] including one for ultraviolet astronomy.[3] It was primarily used to study the Sun, although several other X-ray emissions were detected.
A Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 215 into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar.[4] It occurred at 22:29:52 GMT on 18 April 1968, and resulted in the successfully insertion of the satellite into orbit.[5] Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-033A.[6][7] The North American Air Defense Command assigned it the catalogue number 03205.
Kosmos 215 performed ultraviolet photometry of 36 A and B stars from parallel telescopes and two UV photometers with maximum responses at 274.0 and 227.5 nanometres.[8] Its X-ray telescope was used to measure radiation between 0.05 and 0.5 nanometres.[2]
Kosmos 215 was the only DS-U1-A satellite to be launched,[9] and the fourth DS-U1 across all variants. It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 255 kilometres (158 mi), an apogee of 403 kilometres (250 mi), an inclination of 48.5°, and an orbital period of 91.1 minutes.[10] It completed operations on 6 June 1968.[11] On 30 June 1968, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.[10]
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "DS-U1-A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ a b "The Spokesman-Review - Jun 10, 1968".
- ^ "The Cosmos series".
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ "Cosmos 215".
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "COSMOS 215 Satellite details 1968-033A NORAD 3205".
- ^ Zvereva AM, Eerme KA (1976). "Results of stellar ultraviolet photometry aboard the Cosmos 215 satellite". Krymskaia Astrofizicheskaia Observatoriia, Izvestiia. 55: 200–7. Bibcode:1976IzKry..55..200Z.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-U1-A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ "World Civil Satellites 1957-2006". Space Security Index. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
