Kosmos 214 (Russian: Космос 214 meaning Cosmos 214) or Zenit-4 No.45 was a Soviet, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1968. A Zenit-4 satellite, Kosmos 214 was the fortieth of seventy-six such spacecraft to be launched.[3]
| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | GRU |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-032A |
| SATCAT no. | 03203 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-4 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 6300 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 April 1968, 10:33:00 GMT [1] |
| Rocket | Voskhod 11A57 s/n V15001-12 |
| Launch site | Plesetsk, Site 41/1 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 26 April 1968, 09:36 GMT |
| Landing site | Steppe in Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 200 km |
| Apogee altitude | 373 km |
| Inclination | 81.4° |
| Period | 90.3 minutes |
| Epoch | 18 April 1968 |
Spacecraft
Kosmos 18 was a Zenit-4 satellite, a second generation, high-resolution, reconnaissance satellite derived from the Vostok spacecraft used for crewed flights, the satellites were developed by OKB-1. Kosmos 214 had a mass of 6,300 kilograms (13,900 lb), and carried one camera of 3000 mm focal length as well as a 200 mm camera. The focal length of the main camera was greater than the diameter of the capsule so the camera made use of a mirror to fold the light path. The ground resolution is not publicly known but it is believed to have been 1–2 m.
Launch
Kosmos 214 was launched by the Voskhod 11A57 rocket, serial number V15001-12, flying from Site 41/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:33:00 GMT on 18 April 1968, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1968-032A and the Satellite Catalog Number 03203.[1]
Mission
Kosmos 214 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 18 April 1968, it had a perigee of 200 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 373 kilometres (232 mi), an inclination of 81.4°, and an orbital period of 90.3 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 214 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 09:36 GMT on 26 April 1968, and recovered by the Soviet forces in the steppe in Kazakhstan.
