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.

Kosmos 215
Mission typeScientific
COSPAR ID1968-033A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.03205
Mission duration73 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-U1-A
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass400 kg
Start of mission
Launch date18 April 1968, 22:29:52 GMT
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch siteKapustin Yar, Site 86/4
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Last contact6 June 1968
Decay date30 June 1968
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude255 km
Apogee altitude403 km
Inclination48.5°
Period91.1 minutes
Epoch18 April 1968

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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "DS-U1-A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b "The Spokesman-Review - Jun 10, 1968".
  3. ^ "The Cosmos series".
  4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  6. ^ "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)
  7. ^ "COSMOS 215 Satellite details 1968-033A NORAD 3205".
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-U1-A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  10. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  11. ^ "World Civil Satellites 1957-2006". Space Security Index. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2009.