Kosmos 24

Kosmos 24 (Russian: Космос 24 meaning Cosmos 24) or Zenit-2 No.15 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite. It was a first generation, low resolution spacecraft. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 24 was the fifteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[3][4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 24
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1963-052A
SATCAT no.00712
Mission duration9 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date19 December 1963
09:21:00 GMT
RocketVostok-2 s/n G15001-03
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date28 December 1963
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude204 km
Apogee altitude391 km
Inclination65.0°
Period90.5 minutes
Epoch19 December 1963
 

A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-03,[5] was used to launch Kosmos 24. The launch took place at 09:28:58 UTC on 19 December 1963, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[6] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-052A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00712.

Kosmos 24 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 19 December 1963, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 391 kilometres (243 mi), with inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.[7] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 28 December 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.

References
  1. "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details".
  2. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1963-052A - 27 February 2020
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  4. Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  5. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 December 2013.


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