Kosmos 222

Kosmos 222
Mission typeABM radar target
COSPAR ID1968-044A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.03272
Mission duration134 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-Yu
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass325 kg
Start of mission
Launch date30 May 1968, 20:29:49 GMT
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch sitePlesetsk, Site 133/3
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date11 October 1968
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude285 km
Apogee altitude488 km
Inclination71.0°
Period92.3 minutes
Epoch30 May 1968


Kosmos 222 (Russian: Космос 222 meaning Cosmos 222), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.12, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1] It had a mass of 325 kilograms (717 lb).[1]

Kosmos 222 was launched from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 30 May 1968 at 20:29:49 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 222's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-044A.

Kosmos 222 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 285 kilometres (177 mi), an apogee of 488 kilometres (303 mi), an inclination of 71.0°, and an orbital period of 92.3 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 11 October 1968.[4] It was the fourteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the thirteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 August 2009.





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