# Kosmos 1

> Soviet research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q51523](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51523)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1

## Summary
Kosmos 1 was the Soviet Union's first research satellite, specifically a DS-2 model, launched on March 16, 1962. It was a technology demonstration satellite that operated in low Earth orbit before re-entering the atmosphere on May 25, 1962.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** March 16, 1962 from Kapustin Yar.
- **Mass:** 47 kilograms.
- **Orbital Period:** 96.4 minutes.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962-008A.
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office.
- **Launch Vehicles:** Used both Kosmos 63S1 and Kosmos-2I rockets.
- **Orbital Decay Date:** May 25, 1962.
- **Instance Of:** DS-2 satellite model.
- **Aliases:** Sputnik 11, DS-2 No.1, Cosmos 1, Spoutnik 11.
- **Different From:** Cosmos 1 (distinct entity).

## FAQs
### Q: What was Kosmos 1?
A: Kosmos 1 was the first Soviet research satellite, specifically the first DS-2 model, launched in 1962 to demonstrate satellite technology in orbit.

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 1 launched?
A: Kosmos 1 was launched on March 16, 1962, from the Kapustin Yar cosmodrome.

### Q: What type of satellite was Kosmos 1?
A: Kosmos 1 was a DS-2 class Soviet technology demonstration satellite.

### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 1?
A: Kosmos 1 served as a research satellite and technology demonstrator for the Soviet Union, though specific research objectives are not detailed in the provided source.

### Q: Is Kosmos 1 the same as Cosmos 1?
A: No, Kosmos 1 (DS-2 No.1, 1962) is explicitly listed as a different entity from Cosmos 1. They are distinct satellites.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 1 holds significance as the inaugural Soviet research satellite and the first of the DS-2 class. Its launch on March 16, 1962, marked an important step in the Soviet space program's development of indigenous satellite technology beyond the earlier Sputnik series. Demonstrating the capability to build, launch, and operate a research satellite on a new DS-2 platform provided crucial experience and validation for subsequent Soviet missions. Its short operational life, ending in atmospheric decay by May 25, 1962, was typical for early experimental satellites but underscored the nascent stage of space technology development. It established a baseline for future Soviet research satellites and the Kosmos satellite naming convention.

## Notable For
- Being the very first DS-2 satellite model launched by the Soviet Union.
- Holding the designation as the initial satellite in the Soviet research satellite program under the Kosmos name (despite other aliases like Sputnik 11).
- Having a notably short operational lifespan, decaying less than three months after launch (May 25, 1962).
- Using both the Kosmos 63S1 and Kosmos-2I carrier rockets, showcasing an early stage in Soviet launch vehicle development.
- Being explicitly differentiated from the later, more famous (and failed) solar sail mission also named "Cosmos 1".

## Body
### Organization
- **Entity:** Kosmos 1
- **Description:** Soviet research satellite
- **Aliases:** Sputnik 11, DS-2 No.1, Cosmos 1, Spoutnik 11
- **Instance Of:** DS-2 (satellite model/class)
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office

### Technical Specifications
- **Serial Number (SCN):** 00266
- **Mass:** 47 kilograms
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos 63S1 and Kosmos-2I
- **Start Point:** Kapustin Yar cosmodrome
- **Launch Date:** March 16, 1962
- **Decay Date:** May 25, 1962

### Orbital Parameters
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962-008A
- **Periapsis:** 217 kilometers
- **Apoapsis:** 980 kilometers
- **Orbital Period:** 96.4 minutes
- **Orbital Inclination:** 49 degrees
- **Significant Event:** Rocket Launch on March 16, 1962 at Kapustin Yar

### Identifiers
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0641gty
- **Wikipedia Title:** Kosmos 1
- **Commons Category:** Cosmos 1
- **Site Link Count:** 19
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Bulgarian (bg), Bengali (bn), German (de), Greek (el), English (en), Spanish (es), French (fr), Galician (gl), Hungarian (hu), Indonesian (id)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013