# Kosmos 31

> technology demonstration satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53055](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53055)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_31)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-31

## Summary
Kosmos 31 was a Soviet technology demonstration satellite launched on June 6, 1964, as part of the DS-MT series. It had a mass of 325 kg and orbited Earth for approximately 4.5 months before its atmospheric entry on October 20, 1964.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: June 6, 1964
- Mass: 325 kilograms
- COSPAR ID: 1964-028A
- Launch vehicle: Kosmos 63S1
- Launch site: Kapustin Yar
- Orbital period: 91.7 minutes
- Orbital parameters: 221 km (periapsis) to 485 km (apoapsis), 48.9° inclination
- Decay date: October 20, 1964
- Operator: Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 31?
A: Kosmos 31 was a technology demonstration satellite that was part of the Soviet DS-MT series, used for testing and research purposes.

### Q: How long did Kosmos 31 remain in orbit?
A: Kosmos 31 was launched on June 6, 1964, and remained in orbit until October 20, 1964, when it decayed and entered Earth's atmosphere.

### Q: What rocket launched Kosmos 31?
A: Kosmos 31 was launched using a Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle from Kapustin Yar on June 6, 1964.

### Q: What was Kosmos 31's orbital characteristics?
A: The satellite had an orbital period of 91.7 minutes, with a periapsis of 221 km, apoapsis of 485 km, and an orbital inclination of 48.9 degrees.

### Q: Who manufactured Kosmos 31?
A: Kosmos 31 was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office under the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 31 represents an important step in Soviet space technology development during the early 1960s. As a technology demonstration satellite from the DS-MT series, it contributed to the Soviet space program's capabilities and knowledge about satellite operations. The mission demonstrated the reliability of the Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle and provided valuable data for future Soviet satellite designs. Its relatively short operational lifespan (approximately 4.5 months) was typical for early technology demonstration satellites, which were often intended for short-duration testing rather than long-term operations.

## Notable For
- Being one of the early Soviet technology demonstration satellites in the DS-MT series
- Having a mass of 325 kg, which was relatively substantial for early Soviet satellites
- Maintaining an orbit with a 48.9° inclination, which allowed for different observational capabilities
- Having a short operational lifespan of approximately 4.5 months before atmospheric entry
- Using the Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle, an important component in early Soviet space infrastructure

## Body
### Basic Information
Kosmos 31 was a Soviet technology demonstration satellite launched on June 6, 1964. It was also known as DS-MT No.2 and belonged to the DS-MT series of technology demonstration and research satellites.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 325 kilograms
- Orbital period: 91.7 minutes
- Periapsis: 221 kilometers
- Apoapsis: 485 kilometers
- Orbital inclination: 48.9 degrees
- COSPAR ID: 1964-028A
- SCN: 00803

### Mission Profile
The satellite was launched at 06:00:00 on June 6, 1964, from Kapustin Yar using a Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle. It was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office and operated by the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. Kosmos 31 remained in orbit for approximately 4.5 months before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on October 20, 1964.

### Classification and Relationships
Kosmos 31 is classified as a DS-MT model satellite and an artificial satellite of Earth. It was launched using the Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle model. The satellite had 10 sitelinks across various Wikipedia languages including English, Spanish, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Shqip.

### Digital Identifiers
- Freebase ID: /m/06400ld
- Wikipedia title: Kosmos 31
- Commons category: Cosmos (satellite)

## References

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