| Mission type | Scientific |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1968-033A |
| SATCATno. | 03205 |
| Mission duration | 73 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U1-A |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 400 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 April 1968, 22:29:52 GMT |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar,Site 86/4 |
| Contractor | Yuzhnoye |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 6 June 1968 |
| Decay date | 30 June 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 255 km |
| Apogee altitude | 403 km |
| Inclination | 48.5° |
| Period | 91.1 minutes |
| Epoch | 18 April 1968 |
Kosmos 215 (Russian:Космос 215 meaningCosmos 215), also known asDS-U1-A No.1, was aSovietsatellite which was launched in 1968 as part of theDnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 385-kilogram (849 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by theYuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used to study radiation and conduct optical observations of the atmosphere of the Earth. It was equipped with eighttelescopes,[1][2] including one forultraviolet astronomy.[3] It was primarily used to study theSun, although several other X-ray emissions were detected.
AKosmos-2I 63SMcarrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 215 intolow Earth orbit. The launch took place fromSite 86/4 atKapustin Yar.[4] It occurred at 22:29:52 GMT on 18 April 1968, and resulted in the successfully insertion of the satellite into orbit.[5] Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned itsKosmos designation, and received theInternational Designator 1968-033A.[6][7] TheNorth American Air Defense Command assigned it thecatalogue number 03205.
Kosmos 215 performed ultraviolet photometry of 36 A and B stars from parallel telescopes and two UV photometers with maximum responses at 274.0 and 227.5 nanometres.[8] Its X-ray telescope was used to measure radiation between 0.05 and 0.5 nanometres.[2]
Kosmos 215 was the onlyDS-U1-A satellite to be launched,[9] and the fourthDS-U1 across all variants. It was operated in an orbit with aperigee of 255 kilometres (158 mi), anapogee of 403 kilometres (250 mi), aninclination of 48.5°, and anorbital period of 91.1 minutes.[10] It completed operations on 6 June 1968.[11] On 30 June 1968, itdecayed from orbit andreentered the atmosphere.[10]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved20 April 2020.
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