| Mission type | ABM radar target | 
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1968-083A | 
| SATCAT no. | 03457  | 
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-P1-Yu | 
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye | 
| Launch mass | 325 kilograms (717 lb) | 
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 October 1968, 12:58:59 UTC | 
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM | 
| Launch site | Plesetsk 133/1 | 
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 15 January 1969 | 
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric | 
| Regime | Low Earth | 
| Perigee altitude | 260 kilometres (160 mi) | 
| Apogee altitude | 443 kilometres (275 mi) | 
| Inclination | 70.9 degrees | 
| Period | 91.6 minutes | 
Kosmos 245 (Russian: Космос 245 meaning Cosmos 245), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.16, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1] It had a mass of 325 kilograms (717 lb).[1]
Kosmos 245 was launched from Site 133/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 3 October 1968 at 12:58:59 UTC, and resulted in Kosmos 245's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-083A.
Kosmos 245 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 260 kilometres (160 mi), an apogee of 443 kilometres (275 mi), 70.9 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 91.6 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 15 January 1969.[4] It was the sixteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the fifteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.