| Mission type | Astronomy Micrometeoroids |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1971-105A |
| SATCATno. | 05643 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U2-MT |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 680 kilograms (1,500 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2 December 1971, 17:30:00 (1971-12-02UTC17:30Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 21 February 1979 (1979-02-22) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 486 kilometres (302 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 508 kilometres (316 mi) |
| Inclination | 69.2 degrees |
| Period | 94.55 minutes |
Kosmos 461 (Russian:Космос 461 meaningCosmos 461), also known asDS-U2-MT 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 investigatemicrometeoroids and conductgamma ray astronomy.[2]
AKosmos-3Mcarrier rocket, serial number 47119-109, was used to launch Kosmos 461 intolow Earth orbit. The launch took place fromSite 132/1 at thePlesetsk Cosmodrome.[3] The launch occurred at 17:30:00 UTC on 2 December 1971, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[4]
Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned itsKosmos designation, and received theInternational Designator 1971-105A.[5] TheNorth American Aerospace Defense Command assigned it thecatalogue number 05643.
Kosmos 461 was the onlyDS-U2-MT satellite to be launched.[2][6] It was operated in an orbit with aperigee of 486 kilometres (302 mi), anapogee of 508 kilometres (316 mi), 69.2 degrees ofinclination, and anorbital period of 94.55 minutes.[7] It completed operations on 14 December 1972,[1] beforedecaying from orbit andreentering the atmosphere on 21 February 1979.[7]
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