Operator | Soviet space program |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 1969-080A |
SATCAT no. | 4104 |
Mission duration | 4 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Ye-8-5 |
Manufacturer | GSMZ Lavochkin |
Launch mass | 5,600 kg (12,300 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | September 23, 1969, 14:07:00[2] | UTC
Rocket | Proton-K/D |
Launch site | Baikonur 81/24 |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Launch failure |
Decay date | September 27, 1969 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
Perigee altitude | 184 km (114 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 189 km (117 mi) |
Inclination | 51.5° |
Period | 88.2 min |
Kosmos 300 (Russian: Космос 300 meaning Cosmos 300) (Ye-8-5 series) was the fourth Soviet attempt at an uncrewed lunar sample return. It was probably similar in design to the later Luna 16 spacecraft. It was launched, on a Proton rocket, on September 23, 1969.[3] The mission was a failure. The engines on the Block D upper stage failed due to an oxidizer leak, leaving the spacecraft to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.[4]