# Kosmos 197

> soviet satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q168512](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168512)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_197)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-197

## Summary
Kosmos 197 was a Soviet satellite launched on December 26, 1967, specifically designed for ionospheric research. Manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, it was a model of the DS-U2-V class and was launched aboard a Kosmos-2I carrier rocket from the Kapustin Yar launch site.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Kosmos 197 was an instance of the DS-U2-V, a model of Soviet ionospheric research satellite.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on December 26, 1967.
- **Launch Time:** The precise time of the rocket launch was 09:01:59.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Kapustin Yar.
- **Carrier Rocket:** It was deployed using a Kosmos-2I rocket, a Soviet carrier rocket.
- **Manufacturer:** The satellite was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1967-126A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It holds the SCN value of 03079.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of Kosmos 197?
A: Kosmos 197 was a Soviet satellite used for ionospheric research. It belonged to the specific DS-U2-V class of satellites designed for this scientific purpose.

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 197 launched?
A: Kosmos 197 was launched on December 26, 1967, at 09:01:59. The launch took place at the Kapustin Yar launch complex.

### Q: Who built Kosmos 197 and what rocket was used?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office. It was sent into orbit using a Kosmos-2I carrier rocket.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 197 represents a specific segment of the Soviet space program dedicated to understanding the Earth's ionosphere during the Cold War era. As part of the DS-U2-V series, its primary role was to gather data on the upper atmosphere, which is critical for both scientific understanding and the optimization of radio communications.

The satellite is notable for being a product of the Pivdenne Design Office, a major Ukrainian-Soviet design bureau, highlighting the collaborative nature of Soviet aerospace manufacturing. Launched in late 1967, it contributed to the intensive period of space exploration characterized by the Kosmos program, which encompassed a wide array of scientific and military satellites. The use of the Kosmos-2I launch vehicle—a rocket derived from the R-12 ballistic missile—demonstrates the era's reliance on converted military technology for scientific access to space. Kosmos 197 serves as a historical data point for the timeline of ionospheric studies and the operational history of the Kapustin Yar launch site, which was frequently used for smaller scientific satellites and vertical launch probes during this period.

## Notable For
- **Ionospheric Research:** It was a specialized platform (DS-U2-V class) built to study the ionosphere.
- **Specific Launch Configuration:** It utilized the Kosmos-2I rocket, a vehicle noted in related records as a "superseded" carrier rocket.
- **Manufacturing Origin:** The satellite was produced by the Pivdenne Design Office, a significant entity in aerospace history.
- **Precise Event Tracking:** The significant event of its rocket launch is recorded to the exact second (09:01:59).

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Kosmos 197 functioned as a Soviet artificial satellite with the specific mission of ionospheric research. It was classified as a DS-U2-V model. The "Kosmos" designation was standard for Soviet satellites to obscure the specific nature of military or experimental missions, though in this instance, the classification points toward scientific research.

### Development and Manufacturing
The design and construction of Kosmos 197 were managed by the Pivdenne Design Office. This entity was responsible for the creation of the satellite systems that would eventually be integrated into the launch vehicle.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on December 26, 1967. The mission employed a Kosmos-2I carrier rocket, a two-stage rocket derived from the R-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile.
*   **Site:** The launch was conducted from the Kapustin Yar rocket launch and development site.
*   **Time:** The launch event occurred at 09:01:59 on the date of the mission.

### Identifiers and Records
In international catalogs, Kosmos 197 is identified by the COSPAR ID 1967-126A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 03079. These identifiers allow for the tracking of the object's orbital parameters and history within global space surveillance databases.

## References

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