Mission type Optical imaging SATCAT no. 1505 Spacecraft type Zenit-2 Rocket Vostok-2 | COSPAR ID 1965-066A Mission duration 8 days Launch date 14 August 1965 | |
Launch mass 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb) Manufacturer S. P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Similar Kosmos 97, Solrad 8, Kosmos 96 | ||
Kosmos 78 (Russian: Космос 78 meaning Cosmos 78) or Zenit-2 No.30 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 78 was the thirtieth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).
Kosmos 78 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-02, flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:16 UTC on 14 August 1965, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1965-066A and the Satellite Catalog Number 1505.
Kosmos 78 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 18 August 1965 it had a perigee of 199 kilometres (124 mi), an apogee of 304 kilometres (189 mi) inclination of 68.9 degrees and an orbital period of 89.53 minutes. On 22 August 1965, after eight days of operation the satellite was deorbited, with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery.