Kosmos 214

Kosmos 214
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorGRU
COSPAR ID1968-032A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.03203
Mission duration8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-4
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass6300 kg
Start of mission
Launch date18 April 1968, 10:33:00 GMT [1]
RocketVoskhod 11A57 s/n V15001-12
Launch sitePlesetsk, Site 41/1
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date26 April 1968, 09:36 GMT
Landing siteSteppe in Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude200 km
Apogee altitude373 km
Inclination81.4°
Period90.3 minutes
Epoch18 April 1968

Kosmos 214 (Russian: Космос 214 meaning Cosmos 214) or Zenit-4 No.45 was a Soviet, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1968. A Zenit-4 satellite, Kosmos 214 was the fortieth of seventy-six such spacecraft to be launched.[3]

Spacecraft

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Kosmos 18 was a Zenit-4 satellite, a second generation, high-resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. Kosmos 214 had a mass of 6,300 kilograms (13,900 lb), and carried one camera of 3000 mm focal length as well as a 200 mm camera. The focal length of the main camera was greater than the diameter of the capsule so the camera made use of a mirror to fold the light path. The ground resolution is not publicly known but it is believed to have been 1–2 m.

Launch

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Kosmos 214 was launched by the Voskhod 11A57 rocket, serial number V15001-12, flying from Site 41/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:33:00 GMT on 18 April 1968, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1968-032A and the Satellite Catalog Number 03203.[1]

Mission

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Kosmos 214 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 18 April 1968, it had a perigee of 200 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 373 kilometres (232 mi), an inclination of 81.4°, and an orbital period of 90.3 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 214 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 09:36 GMT on 26 April 1968, and recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Cosmos 214: Display 1968-032A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Cosmos 214: Trajectory 1968-032A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-4 (11F69)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 28 April 2020.