Kosmos 13 (russian: Космос 13 meaning ''Cosmos 13'') or Zenit-2 No.8 was a Soviet optical film-return

reconnaissance satellite A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. The ...

launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 13 was the eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched.

Spacecraft

Kosmos 13 was a Zenit-2 satellite, a first generation, low resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. In addition to reconnaissance, it was also used for research into

radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'', such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visi ...

in support of the Vostok programme. It had a mass of .

Mission

The Vostok-2 rocket, serial number T15000-01, was used to launch Kosmos 13. The launch took place from Site 1/5 at the

Baikonur Cosmodrome The Baikonur Cosmodrome ( kk, Байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы, translit=Baiqoñyr ğaryş ailağy, ; russian: Космодром Байконур, translit=Kosmodrom Baykonur, ) is a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to R ...

at 08:24:00 GMT on 21 March 1963. Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its

Kosmos The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...

designation, along with the International Designator 1963-006A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00554. Kosmos 13 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 23 March 1963 it had a perigee of , an apogee of , with an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes. After eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 29 March 1963, with its return capsule descending by

parachute A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...

for recovery by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan. In addition to its reconnaissance payload, Kosmos 13 also carried an experiment to measure

levels in its environment.

References

Spacecraft launched in 1963 Kosmos satellites Spacecraft which reentered in 1963 Zenit-2 satellites {{USSR-spacecraft-stub

Spacecraft

Mission

See also

References