Kosmos 320

Kosmos 320
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorVNIIEM
COSPAR ID1970-005A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.04301Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-MO
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass375 kilograms (827 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date16 January 1970, 10:59:58 (1970-01-16UTC10:59:58Z) UTC
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch siteKapustin Yar 86/4
End of mission
Decay date10 February 1970 (1970-02-11)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude247 kilometres (153 mi)
Apogee altitude326 kilometres (203 mi)
Inclination48.4 degrees
Period90.2 minutes

Kosmos 320 (Russian: Космос 320 meaning Cosmos 320), also known as DS-MO No.3 was a technology demonstration satellite which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1970 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. Its primary mission was to demonstrate orientation control by means of an aerodynamic skirt stabiliser.[1] It also carried an optical research payload for the Soviet Armed Forces.

Launch

It was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I 63SM rocket[2] from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar. The launch occurred at 10:59:58 UTC on 16 January 1970.[3]

Orbit

Kosmos 320 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 247 kilometres (153 mi), an apogee of 326 kilometres (203 mi), 48.4 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 90.2 minutes.[1] It decayed from orbit on 10 February 1970.[4] Kosmos 320 was the second of two DS-MO satellites to be launched. It was preceded by Kosmos 149, which was launched in March 1967.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "DS-MO". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "DS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.


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