| Mission type | Magnetospheric |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1971-052A |
| SATCATno. | 05281 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U2-K |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 680 kilograms (1,500 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 4 June 1971, 18:10:00 (1971-06-04UTC18:10Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk132/2 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 11 May 2002 (2002-05-12) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 388 kilometres (241 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,993 kilometres (1,238 mi) |
| Inclination | 74 degrees |
| Period | 109.2 minutes |
Kosmos 426 (Russian:Космос 426 meaningCosmos 426), also known asDS-U2-K No.1, was aSovietsatellite which was launched in 1971 as part of theDnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 680-kilogram (1,500 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by theYuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used to studycharged particles andradiation in the Earth'smagnetosphere.[1]
AKosmos-3Mcarrier rocket, withserial number 65014-101, was used to launch Kosmos 426 intolow Earth orbit.[2] The launch took place fromSite 132/2 at thePlesetsk Cosmodrome.[2] The launch occurred at 18:10:00 UTC on 4 June 1971, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[3]
Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned itsKosmos designation, and received theInternational Designator 1971-052A.[4] TheNorth American Aerospace Defense Command assigned it thecatalogue number 05281.
Kosmos 426 was the onlyDS-U2-K satellite to be launched.[1][5] It was operated in an orbit with aperigee of 388 kilometres (241 mi), anapogee of 1,993 kilometres (1,238 mi), 74 degrees ofinclination, and anorbital period of 109.2 minutes.[6] It was operated until 12 January 1972,[7] and subsequently remained in orbit until itdecayed andreentered the atmosphere on 11 May 2002.[6]
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