# Kosmos 212

> Satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q576582](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q576582)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_212)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-212

## Summary
Kosmos 212 was an uncrewed Soviet spaceflight launched on April 14, 1968, as part of the Soyuz programme. It was a Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft, designed for docking experiments with Kosmos 213, and operated in low Earth orbit for 6 days before landing on April 20, 1968.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 14, 1968
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz
- **Spacecraft Type**: Soyuz 7K-OK
- **Mission Duration**: 5,890 minutes (6 days)
- **Orbital Period**: 88.29 minutes
- **Apoapsis**: 200 km
- **Periapsis**: 180 km
- **Orbital Inclination**: 51.6 degrees
- **Orbits Completed**: 80
- **Landing Date**: April 20, 1968
- **Operator**: Soviet space program
- **Docking Event**: Docked with Kosmos 213 on April 15, 1968

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 212?
A: Kosmos 212 was launched to test docking procedures with Kosmos 213, another Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft, as part of the Soviet Union's Soyuz programme.

### Q: How long did Kosmos 212 remain in space?
A: The spacecraft operated in low Earth orbit for 6 days, completing 80 orbits before landing on April 20, 1968.

### Q: What type of spacecraft was Kosmos 212?
A: Kosmos 212 was a Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft, part of the first generation of Soyuz spacecraft designed for the Soviet space programme.

### Q: Where was Kosmos 212 launched from?
A: The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a key site for Soviet space missions.

### Q: What was the significance of Kosmos 212's docking with Kosmos 213?
A: The docking experiment was a critical test of the Soyuz spacecraft's ability to link with another vehicle in orbit, a key milestone for future crewed missions.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 212 was a pivotal uncrewed mission in the Soviet Soyuz programme, demonstrating the spacecraft's docking capabilities with Kosmos 213. This test was essential for validating the Soyuz 7K-OK's performance in space, including its ability to link with another vehicle—a critical step for future crewed missions. The mission contributed to the broader goals of the Soviet space programme, which aimed to establish long-term human presence in space. While uncrewed, Kosmos 212's success laid the groundwork for later crewed Soyuz missions, including those that would eventually carry cosmonauts to the Salyut space stations. Its orbital parameters and mission duration provided valuable data on spacecraft behavior in low Earth orbit, furthering Soviet spaceflight technology.

## Notable For
- **First-generation Soyuz spacecraft**: Kosmos 212 was part of the Soyuz 7K-OK class, the first generation of Soyuz spacecraft designed for the Soviet space programme.
- **Docking experiment**: The mission successfully docked with Kosmos 213, testing critical procedures for future crewed missions.
- **Low Earth orbit operations**: The spacecraft operated in a stable low Earth orbit, completing 80 orbits over 6 days.
- **Soviet space programme milestone**: The mission contributed to the broader goals of the Soviet space programme, including long-term human spaceflight.
- **Baikonur Cosmodrome launch**: The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a key site for Soviet space missions.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Kosmos 212 was an uncrewed Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft launched on April 14, 1968, as part of the Soviet Soyuz programme. The mission's primary objective was to test docking procedures with Kosmos 213, another Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft. The two spacecraft successfully docked on April 15, 1968, demonstrating the Soyuz 7K-OK's ability to link with another vehicle in orbit—a critical capability for future crewed missions.

### Orbital Parameters
Kosmos 212 operated in low Earth orbit with an apoapsis of 200 km and a periapsis of 180 km. The spacecraft had an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees and an orbital period of 88.29 minutes. Over its 6-day mission, it completed 80 orbits before landing on April 20, 1968.

### Launch and Landing
The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 using a Soyuz rocket. The mission concluded with a successful landing, marking the end of Kosmos 212's operational phase. The spacecraft's mass at takeoff was 6,530 kg.

### Significance
Kosmos 212 was a key test of the Soyuz 7K-OK's capabilities, particularly its docking system. The mission's success contributed to the broader goals of the Soviet space programme, which aimed to establish long-term human presence in space. While uncrewed, Kosmos 212's docking experiment was a critical step toward future crewed Soyuz missions, including those that would eventually carry cosmonauts to the Salyut space stations.

### Historical Context
The Soyuz programme, initiated by the Soviet Union, was designed to provide a reliable means of transporting cosmonauts to and from space. Kosmos 212 was part of the first generation of Soyuz spacecraft, the Soyuz 7K-OK class, which laid the foundation for later versions of the Soyuz spacecraft. The mission's docking experiment was a critical test of the spacecraft's ability to link with another vehicle in orbit, a key requirement for future crewed missions.

## References

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