Kosmos 221

Mission type	ABM radar target
COSPAR ID	1968-043A
SATCAT no.	03269
Mission duration	464 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	DS-P1-Yu
Manufacturer	Yuzhnoye
Launch mass	400 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	24 May 1968, 07:04:50 GMT
Rocket	Kosmos-2I 63SM
Launch site	Kapustin Yar, Site 86/4
Contractor	Yuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date	31 August 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	218 km
Apogee altitude	2086 km
Inclination	48.4°
Period	108.3 minutes
Epoch	24 May 1968

Kosmos 221 (Russian: Космос 221 meaning Cosmos 221), also known as DS-P1-Yu No.14, 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 400 kilograms (880 lb).^[1]

Kosmos 221 was launched from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar,^[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 24 May 1968 at 07:04:50 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 221's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.^[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-043A.

Kosmos 221 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 218 kilometres (135 mi), an apogee of 2,086 kilometres (1,296 mi), an inclination of 48.4°, and an orbital period of 108.3 minutes.^[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 31 August 1969.^[4] It was the thirteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,^[1] and the twelfth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.^[5]

See also

• 1968 in spaceflight

References

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