Kosmos 233

Kosmos 233 (Russian: Космос 233 meaning Cosmos 233), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.15, 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 233
Mission typeABM radar target
COSPAR ID1968-061A
SATCAT no.03326
Mission duration204 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeDS-P1-Yu
ManufacturerYuzhnoye
Launch mass325 kg
Start of mission
Launch date18 July 1968, 19:59:50 GMT
RocketKosmos-2I 63SM
Launch sitePlesetsk, Site 133/3
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Decay date7 February 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude198 km
Apogee altitude1514 km
Inclination82.0°
Period102.1 minutes
Epoch18 July 1968
 

Kosmos 233 was launched from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 18 July 1968 at 19:59:50 UTC, and resulted in Kosmos 233's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-061A.

Kosmos 233 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 198 kilometres (123 mi), an apogee of 1,514 kilometres (941 mi), an inclination of 82.0°, and an orbital period of 102.1 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 7 February 1969.[4] It was the fifteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the fourteenth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]

See also

References
  1. Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  4. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  5. Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 11 August 2009.


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