Kosmos 76
Encyclopedia
Kosmos 76 also known as DS-P1-Yu #3 was a Soviet
satellite
which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missile
s. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
, and launched in 1965 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
programme.
Kosmos 76 was launched using a Kosmos-2I
63S1 carrier rocket, which flew from Site 86/1 at Kapustin Yar
. The launch occurred at 04:33 GMT on 23 July 1965.
Kosmos 76 separated from its carrier rocket into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee
of 255 kilometres (158.5 mi), an apogee
of 499 kilometres (310.1 mi), 48.7 degrees of inclination
, and an orbital period
of 92.09 minutes. It decayed
from orbit on 16 March 1966. Kosmos 76 was the third of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched, of which all but seven were successful. It replaced the previous satellite, DS-P1-Yu #2, which had failed to reach orbit due to a second stage malfunction
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....
satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
s. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
Yuzhnoye Design Bureau , located in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, is a designer of satellites and rockets, and formerly of Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles established by Mikhail Yangel. Yuzhnoye's OKB designation was OKB-586....
, and launched in 1965 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik
Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik , also known as DS, was a series of satellites launched by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1982. DS satellites were used for a number of missions, including technological and scientific research, and radar tracking targets for anti-satellite weapons and anti-ballistic...
programme.
Kosmos 76 was launched using a Kosmos-2I
Kosmos-2I
Kosmos-2I is the designation applied to two Soviet carrier rockets, members of the R-12 family, which were used to orbit satellites between 1961 and 1977. They were superseded by the R-14 derived Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M.-References:* http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/koss63s1.htm*...
63S1 carrier rocket, which flew from Site 86/1 at Kapustin Yar
Kapustin Yar
Kapustin Yar is a Russian rocket launch and development site in Astrakhan Oblast, between Volgograd and Astrakhan. Known today as Znamensk , it was established 13 May 1946 and in the beginning used technology, material, and scientific support from defeated Germany...
. The launch occurred at 04:33 GMT on 23 July 1965.
Kosmos 76 separated from its carrier rocket 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 255 kilometres (158.5 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 499 kilometres (310.1 mi), 48.7 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 92.09 minutes. It decayed
Orbital decay
Orbital decay is the process of prolonged reduction in the altitude of a satellite's orbit.This can be due to drag produced by an atmosphere due to frequent collisions between the satellite and surrounding air molecules. The drag experienced by the object is larger in the case of increased solar...
from orbit on 16 March 1966. Kosmos 76 was the third of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched, of which all but seven were successful. It replaced the previous satellite, DS-P1-Yu #2, which had failed to reach orbit due to a second stage malfunction