Kosmos 4
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 4 also known as Zenit-2 #2 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 14 was the first Soviet
reconnaissance satellite to successfully reach orbit. It was the fourth satellite to be designated under the Kosmos
system, and the second Soviet attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite, the previous attempt having failed after one of the carrier rockets engines shut down prematurely.
It was launched on a Vostok-K
rocket, which was making its seventh flight. It was the last Zenit launch to use the Vostok-K, before launches switched to the Vostok-2
starting with the next launch attempt in June 1962. The launch was conducted from Site 1/5
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
, and occurred at 10:02 GMT on 26 April 1962.
Kosmos 4 was placed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 285 kilometres (177.1 mi), an apogee
of 317 kilometres (197 mi), 65 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 90.5 minutes. It conducted a four day mission, before being deorbited and landing by parachute
on 29 April. The spacecraft's orientation system failed, which resulted in only partial completion of the mission. It was to be followed by another satellite in May, however this was delayed to June, and then failed to reach orbit.
Kosmos 4 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft
used for manned
flights. The next Zenit launch attempt failed, and the next launch after that successfully reached orbit as Kosmos 7
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
reconnaissance satellite to successfully reach orbit. It was the fourth satellite to be designated under the Kosmos
Cosmos (satellite)
Kosmos is a designation given to a large number of satellites operated by the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia. Kosmos 1, the first spacecraft to be given a Kosmos designation, was launched on March 16, 1962....
system, and the second Soviet attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite, the previous attempt having failed after one of the carrier rockets engines shut down prematurely.
It was launched on a Vostok-K
Vostok-K
The Vostok-K , GRAU index 8K72K was an expendable carrier rocket used by the Soviet Union for thirteen launches between 1960 and 1964, six of which were manned. It was derived from the earlier Vostok-L, however it featured uprated engines to improve performance, and enlarge its payload capacity...
rocket, which was making its seventh flight. It was the last Zenit launch to use the Vostok-K, before launches switched to the Vostok-2
Vostok-2 (rocket)
The Vostok-2 , GRAU index 8A92 was an expendable carrier rocket used by the Soviet Union between 1962 and 1967. Forty five were launched, of which five failed. It was derived from the earlier Vostok-K, with uprated engines. It was a member of the R-7 family of rockets.The Vostok-2 made its maiden...
starting with the next launch attempt in June 1962. The launch was conducted from Site 1/5
Gagarin's Start
Gagarin's Start is a launch site at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, used for the Soviet space program and now managed by the Russian Federal Space Agency....
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
, and occurred at 10:02 GMT on 26 April 1962.
Kosmos 4 was placed into a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with a perigee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 285 kilometres (177.1 mi), an apogee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 317 kilometres (197 mi), 65 degrees of inclination
Inclination
Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction.-Orbits:The inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit...
, and an orbital period
Orbital period
The orbital period is the time taken for a given object to make one complete orbit about another object.When mentioned without further qualification in astronomy this refers to the sidereal period of an astronomical object, which is calculated with respect to the stars.There are several kinds of...
of 90.5 minutes. It conducted a four day mission, before being deorbited and landing by parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
on 29 April. The spacecraft's orientation system failed, which resulted in only partial completion of the mission. It was to be followed by another satellite in May, however this was delayed to June, and then failed to reach orbit.
Kosmos 4 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft
Vostok spacecraft
The Vostok was a type of spacecraft built by the Soviet Union. The first human spaceflight in history was accomplished on this spacecraft on April 12, 1961, by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin....
used for manned
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
flights. The next Zenit launch attempt failed, and the next launch after that successfully reached orbit as Kosmos 7
Kosmos 7
Kosmos 7 , also known as Zenit-2 #4 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 17 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was the seventh satellite to be designated under the Kosmos system, and the second successful launch of a Soviet reconnaissance satellite. It also marked the...
.