Kosmos 129
Mission typeOptical imaging
COSPAR ID1966-091A[1]
SATCAT no.2491
Mission duration7 days[2]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date14 October 1966, 12:13:08 (1966-10-14UTC12:13:08Z) UTC[3]
RocketVostok-2
Launch sitePlesetsk 41/1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date21 October 1966, 06:14 (1966-10-21UTC06:15Z) UTC[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude180 kilometres (110 mi)
Apogee altitude312 kilometres (194 mi)
Inclination64.6 degrees
Period89.42 minutes
Epoch14 October 1966[4]

Kosmos 129 ([Космос 129] Error: ((Lang-xx)): text has italic markup (help) meaning Cosmos 129) or Zenit-2 No.33 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 129 was the forty-second of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[5][6] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]

Kosmos 129 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U1500-05,[7] flying from Site 41/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 12:13:08 UTC on 14 October 1966,[3] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-091A and the Satellite Catalog Number 2491.[1]

Kosmos 129 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 14 October 1966 it had a perigee of 180 kilometres (110 mi), an apogee of 312 kilometres (194 mi) inclination of 64.6 degrees and an orbital period of 89.42 minutes.[4] After seven days in orbit, Kosmos 129 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 06:14 UTC on 21 October 1966.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Cosmos 129". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Christy, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Date_validation at line 986: bad argument #3 to 'format' (string expected, got nil).