# Kosmos 6

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53602](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53602)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_6)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-6

## Summary
Kosmos 6 was a Soviet radar calibration satellite launched on June 30, 1962, as part of the DS-P1 model series. Manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, it operated in low Earth orbit for approximately 70 days before decaying on September 8, 1962. It was assigned the international designation 1962-028A and Satellite Catalog Number 00338.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** DS-P1 model Soviet radar calibration satellite.
- **Launch Date:** June 30, 1962.
- **Launch Site:** Kapustin Yar.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos 63S1 (also associated with Kosmos-2I class rockets).
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office.
- **Mass:** 355 kilograms.
- **Orbital Parameters:** Periapsis of 274 km; Apoapsis of 360 km; Orbital period of 90.6 minutes; Inclination of 49 degrees.
- **Decay Date:** September 8, 1962 (atmospheric entry).
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1962-028A; SCN 00338.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Kosmos 6?
A: Kosmos 6 was a DS-P1 model satellite designed for radar calibration. It was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office in the Soviet Union.

### Q: When was Kosmos 6 launched and how long did it stay in orbit?
A: Kosmos 6 was launched on June 30, 1962, from Kapustin Yar. It remained in orbit for just over two months, undergoing atmospheric entry and decay on September 8, 1962.

### Q: What were the physical and orbital specifications of Kosmos 6?
A: The satellite had a mass of 355 kilograms. It orbited with a periapsis of 274 kilometers, an apoapsis of 360 kilometers, and completed one orbit every 90.6 minutes at an inclination of 49 degrees.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 6 serves as an early example of the Soviet Union's operational expansion into standardized satellite deployment during the Cold War. As a DS-P1 series satellite, its primary function was radar calibration, a critical task for improving the accuracy of Soviet missile detection and tracking systems. The mission demonstrated the utility of the Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle, a specific configuration derived from the R-12 rocket, which was vital for deploying lighter payloads into Low Earth Orbit from the Kapustin Yar launch site.

Furthermore, Kosmos 6 contributes to the historical record of the "Kosmos" designation, a label used by the Soviet Union to obscure the specific military or scientific nature of its satellites. By occupying the sixth slot in this ubiquitous series, it highlights the rapid cadence of Soviet space efforts in 1962. Although its operational life was short—lasting only 70 days before orbital decay—the specific orbital parameters (49-degree inclination, 274–360 km altitude) provide researchers with concrete data on the early configuration of radar calibration constellations.

## Notable For
- Being an early flight of the **DS-P1** radar calibration satellite class.
- Launching atop the **Kosmos 63S1** launch vehicle, an early Soviet rocket derived from the R-12 missile.
- Having a specific low-Earth orbit with an inclination of **49 degrees**.
- A short orbital lifespan of **70 days**, ending in atmospheric entry on September 8, 1962.
- Being identified by the low Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **00338**, indicating its status as one of the earliest tracked objects in space.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Design
Kosmos 6 was an instance of the DS-P1 class, a model of Soviet radar calibration satellites. The spacecraft was constructed by the Pivdenne Design Office. Weighing 355 kilograms, it was designed to assist in the calibration of ground-based radar systems, a standard function for military-oriented satellites of the Kosmos program during the 1960s.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **June 30, 1962**. The launch occurred at the **Kapustin Yar** launch complex. The vehicle used to place Kosmos 6 into orbit was the **Kosmos 63S1**, a carrier rocket sometimes referred to in broader classifications under the Kosmos-2I lineage. This launch added to the early success rate of the Kosmos family of rockets, which were critical for deploying small to medium-sized payloads.

### Orbital Characteristics
According to tracking data referenced from Russian Wikipedia and Wikidata, Kosmos 6 occupied a low Earth orbit with the following specifications:
- **Periapsis:** 274 kilometres
- **Apoapsis:** 360 kilometres
- **Orbital Period:** 90.6 minutes
- **Inclination:** 49 degrees
- **Eccentricity:** 0.005981

### End of Mission
The satellite's mission concluded when it underwent natural orbital decay. Records indicate a significant event of **atmospheric entry** on **September 8, 1962**. This marks the total duration of its time in space as approximately 70 days, consistent with the orbital decay rates for objects in low altitude (approx. 275 km) orbits without active station-keeping.

## References

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