# Kosmos 60

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q733783](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q733783)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_60)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-60

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Kosmos 60**:

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## Summary  
Kosmos 60 was a Soviet space probe launched in 1965 as part of the Kosmos program. It was designed to explore outer space beyond Earth's orbit but failed to leave geocentric orbit due to a launch vehicle malfunction. The probe re-entered Earth's atmosphere five days after launch.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date**: March 12, 1965, at 09:25:31 UTC from Gagarin's Start, Baikonur Cosmodrome.  
- **Launch vehicle**: Molniya rocket.  
- **Mass**: 1,600 kilograms.  
- **Orbital decay**: Re-entered Earth's atmosphere on March 17, 1965.  
- **Orbital parameters**: Apoapsis of 195 km and orbital period of 89.1 minutes.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-018A.  
- **Mission objective**: Intended for deep space exploration but remained in geocentric orbit.  
- **Significant events**: Rocket launch (March 12) and atmospheric entry (March 17).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 60?  
A: Kosmos 60 was intended to be a deep space probe, but it failed to escape Earth's orbit due to a malfunction in its launch vehicle.  

### Q: How long did Kosmos 60 remain in orbit?  
A: The probe orbited Earth for five days before re-entering the atmosphere on March 17, 1965.  

### Q: What rocket launched Kosmos 60?  
A: It was launched aboard a Soviet Molniya rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 60 represents an early Soviet attempt at deep space exploration during the Cold War space race. Although the mission failed to achieve its primary objective, it contributed to the development of Soviet space technology and provided valuable data on launch vehicle performance. The probe's brief operational period highlighted challenges in achieving escape velocity, influencing later mission designs. Its legacy lies in advancing the Kosmos program, which became foundational for Soviet and later Russian space science.  

## Notable For  
- **Early deep space attempt**: One of the USSR's early missions intended for lunar or planetary exploration.  
- **Short-lived mission**: Only five days in orbit due to launch failure.  
- **Molniya rocket use**: Demonstrated the capabilities and limitations of this Soviet launch vehicle.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: March 12, 1965.  
- **Time**: 09:25:31 UTC.  
- **Site**: Gagarin's Start, Baikonur Cosmodrome.  
- **Vehicle**: Molniya rocket.  

### Orbital Characteristics  
- **Apoapsis**: 195 km.  
- **Orbital period**: 89.1 minutes.  
- **Decay**: March 17, 1965.  

### Mission Failure  
- The probe failed to achieve escape velocity, remaining in geocentric orbit.  
- No scientific data from deep space was collected.  

### Identification  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-018A.  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1965-018A.  
- **Wolfram Language Entity**: Entity["Satellite", "01246"].  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

## References

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