Mission type Optical imaging SATCAT no. 673 Spacecraft type Zenit-2 Rocket Vostok-2 | COSPAR ID 1963-040A Mission duration 8 days Launch date 18 October 1963 | |
Launch mass 4,720 kilograms (10,410 lb) Manufacturer S. P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia People also search for Kosmos 24, Kosmos 18, Kosmos 16 | ||
Kosmos 20 (Russian: Космос 20 meaning Cosmos 20) or Zenit-2 No.13 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 20 was the thirteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched and had a mass of 4,720 kilograms (10,410 lb).
A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-01, was used to launch Kosmos 20. The launch took place at 09:29:58 UTC on 18 October 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-040A and the Satellite Catalog Number 673.
Kosmos 20 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 18 October 1963 it had a perigee of 202 kilometres (126 mi) and an apogee of 296 kilometres (184 mi), with inclination of 64.8 degrees and an orbital period of 89.49 minutes. Having spent eight days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 26 October 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by Soviet forces.