Kosmos 133

Kosmos 133

Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft with an active docking unit.
Mission type	Test Flight
Operator	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
COSPAR ID	1966-107A
SATCAT no.	02601
Mission duration	1 day, 23 hours and 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Soyuz 7K-OK No.2
Spacecraft type	Soyuz 7K-OK
Manufacturer	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
Launch mass	6450 kg[1]
Landing mass	2500 kg
Dimensions	7.13 m long 2.72 m wide
Start of mission
Launch date	28 November 1966 11:02:00 GMT[2]
Rocket	Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02
Launch site	Baikonour, Site 31/6
Contractor	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
End of mission
Disposal	Exploded: on the self-destruct command of ground
Landing date	30 November 1966, 10:21 GMT (exploded)
Landing site	Kazakh Steppe of Kazakhstan (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[2]
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	171.0 km
Apogee altitude	223.0 km
Inclination	51.9°
Period	88.4 minutes
Soyuz programme

Kosmos 133 (Russian: Космос 133, meaning "Kosmos 133"), Soyuz 7K-OK No.2, was the first uncrewed test flight of the Soyuz spacecraft, and first mission of the Soyuz programme, as part of the Soviet space programme.

Launch

Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the maiden flight of the Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02 launch vehicle.^[3] Kosmos 133 was planned "all up" test, to include an automated docking with a second Soyuz spacecraft (Soyuz 7K-OK No.1), which was scheduled for launch the day after Kosmos 133.

Mission

Kosmos 133 was operated in a low Earth orbit, on 28 November 1966, it had a perigee of 171.0 km (106.3 mi), an apogee of 223.0 km (138.6 mi), an inclination of 51.9°, and an orbital period of 88.4 minutes.^[2]

Return

Problems found during ground testing of the second spacecraft resulted in its launch being delayed, and it was destroyed when its launch vehicle exploded on its launch pad following a scrubbed launch attempt in December 1966. Before this, the attitude control system (ACS) of Kosmos 133 malfunctioned, resulting in rapid consumption of orientation fuel, leaving it spinning at 2 rpm. After large efforts by ground control and 5 attempts at retrofire over two days, the craft was finally coming down for a landing. Due to the inaccuracy of the reentry burn, it was determined that the capsule would land in China. The self-destruct command was given and the satellite exploded 30 November 1966 at 10:21 GMT.^[1]

The fireball passed over west Japan and was recorded by photos and a sketch. Kōichirō Tomita identified that it was the Kosmos 133 spacecraft (30 November 1966).^[4]

References

1. "Display: Kosmos 133 1966-107A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "Trajectory: Kosmos 133 1966-107A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
4. 加茂昭, Kamo, Akira (2012). 空とぶマネキン人形 [Flying Mannequin Doll / Mannequin Cosmonaut]. Japan: Seikosha 星湖舎. ISBN 9784863720275.