Kosmos 4 (Russian: Космос 4 meaning Kosmos 4), also known as Zenit-2 No.2 and occasionally in the West as Sputnik 14 was the first Soviet reconnaissance satellite to successfully reach orbit.

Kosmos 4
A Zenit reentry capsule
NamesZenit 2-2
Sputnik 14
Mission typeOptical imaging reconnaissance
OperatorOKB-1
Harvard designation1962 Xi 1
COSPAR ID1962-014A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.287
Mission duration3 days (4 days planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeZenit-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass4610 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date26 April 1962, 10:02:00 GMT
RocketVostok-K
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date29 April 1962
Landing siteSteppe in Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude285 km
Apogee altitude317 km
Inclination65.0°
Period90.60 minutes

Spacecraft

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Kosmos 4 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights.[1] 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 Vostok-K engines shut down prematurely, on 11 December 1961.[3] Kosmos 4 had a mass of 4,610 kg (10,160 lb).[1]

Launch

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It was launched on a Vostok-K rocket, which was making its seventh flight.[4] 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.[5] Kosmos 4 was placed into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 285 km (177 mi), an apogee of 317 km (197 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 90.60 minutes.[2]

Mission

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It conducted a four-day mission, to measure radiation before and after the U.S. nuclear tests conducted during project Starfish Prime.[1] However, leaks from the oxygen system tanks used for the orientation system resulted in the premature return of the spacecraft after three days of flight. During most of the flight the spacecraft was uncontrollable, before being deorbited and landing by parachute on 29 April 1962, and recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.[6]

The next Zenit launch attempt, scheduled for May 1962 but delayed to 1 June 1962, failed to reach orbit, but the next launch successfully reached orbit as Kosmos 7.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Display: Cosmos 4 1962-014A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Trajectory: Cosmos-4 1962-014A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Soyuz". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 16 January 2021.