Kosmos 97

Kosmos 97
Mission typeTechnology
COSPAR ID1965-095A[1]
SATCAT no.01777
Mission duration127 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-U2-M
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass267 kg[2]
Start of mission
Launch date26 November 1965
12:14:00 GMT
RocketKosmos-2M 63S1M
Launch siteKapustin Yar, Site 86/1
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date2 April 1967
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[3]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude213 km
Apogee altitude2144 km
Inclination49.0°
Period108.3 minutes
Epoch26 November 1965

Kosmos 97 (Russian: Космос 97 meaning Cosmos 97), also known as DS-U2-M No.1, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1965 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 267 kilograms (589 lb) spacecraft, which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and used to conduct tests involving atomic clocks.[4]

A Kosmos-2M 63S1M[5] carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 97 into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Site 86/1 at Kapustin Yar.[6] The launch occurred at 12:14 GMT on 26 November 1965, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[7] Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1965-095A. The North American Aerospace Defense Command assigned it the catalogue number 01777.

Kosmos 97 contained the first experiments with measuring masers. A molecular quantum generator was tested, which makes it possible to communicate with and control other spacecraft, and to send information great distances. Aspects of the Theory of Relativity were also tested.[8]

Kosmos 97 was the first of two DS-U2-M satellites to be launched, the other being Kosmos 145.[9] It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 213 kilometres (132 mi), an apogee of 2,144 kilometres (1,332 mi), an inclination of 49.0°, and an orbital period of 108.3 minutes. On 2 April 1967, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.[10]

  1. ^ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-095A - 27 February 2020
  2. ^ "World Civil Satellites 1957-2006". Space Security Index. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  3. ^ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-095A - 27 February 2020
  4. ^ Wade, Mark. "DS-U2-M". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark (31 October 2001). "Kosmos 63S1M". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  6. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  7. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  8. ^ Janes Spaceflight Directory (1987) ISBN 0 7106-0838 1 p206
  9. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-U2-M". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  10. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 7 December 2009.