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| Zenit Re-entry Failures
This table lists the handful of occasions where a Zenit satellite failed to re-enter as planned.
Additionally, some Zenit cabins re-entered successfully but then damage occurred as a result of ballistic problems, parachute problems or particularly awkward landings. Because information on such events is usually secret, they are not included here. Some entries in the main tables contain notes where a post re-entry problem was subsequently flagged up.
Korabl Sputnik (Vostok-1KP) 1960 ε1 34 |
1960 May 15, 00:00 UTC Baikonur Cosmodrome Vostok 8K72 |
1960 Jun 17: 292 x 665 km, 64.9 deg, 94.2 min |
First launch of a Korabl Sputnik in preparation for piloted spaceflight, recovery of the cabin was not intended so it carried no heat shielding. 1960 May 19, 23:52 UTC, retrofire occurred. The guidance system had oriented the spacecraft 180 degrees away from the required attitude so the spacecraft ascended to a higher orbit (as listed below). Otherwise the flight went as expected. The original orbit was reported to have been approx 320 x 360 km. After the retro-rocket firing, the cabin separated and became catalogued as 1960 ε 3, NORAD 36. Catalogued by NORAD with alternate name Sputnik 4.
Note - First satellite to be tracked by the Kettering Grammar School Satellite Tracking Group. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
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Korabl Sputnik 3 (Vostok-1K №3) 1960 ρ1 65 |
1960 Dec 1, 07:30 UTC Baikonur Cosmodrome Vostok 8K72 |
1960 Dec 01: 172 x 238 km, 65.1 deg, 88.6 min |
Carried the dogs Pchelka and Mushka plus other animals, insects, and plants. Retro-fire was 1960 Dec 2, 07:15 UTC. The spacecraft was burned up in the lower atmosphere after the retro-rocket failed to shut down and caused the re-entry angle to be too steep. Catalogued by NORAD with alternate name Sputnik 6. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
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Cosmos 50 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №25) 1964-070A 919 |
1964 Oct 28, 10:39 UTC Baikonur Cosmodrome Vostok 8A92 |
1964 Oct 28: 191 x 234 km, 51.3 deg, 88.7 min |
Imaging satellite equipped with film cameras for photo-reconnaissance - cabin section disintegrated when auto-destruct system was triggered after retro-fire failed. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
HF Transmit: 19.995 MHz, FSK/PDM |
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Cosmos 57 (Voskhod-3KD №1) 1965-012A 1093 |
1965 Feb 22, 07:40 UTC Baikonur Cosmodrome Voskhod, 11A57 |
1965 Feb 22: 164 x 426 km, 64.8 deg, 90.5 min |
Test mission prior to the Voskhod 2 flight. Objectives - test out the EVA suit and the inflatable EVA airlock. Both test were successful but when Cosmos 57 received two radio commands simultaneously, the onboard system set in motion a train of events that led to its disintegration through ignition of the auto-destruct system. As a result, it was not possible to measure the aerodynamic effects during re-entry of the airlock attachment ring. This was subsequently undertaken by Cosmos 59, a Zenit-4 spacecraft. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
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SL-3 DEB () 1968-003C 3115 |
1968 Jan 16, 12:00 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Voskhod, 11A57 |
1968 Jan 25: 145 x 244 km, 65.7 deg, 88.4 min |
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Re-entry Unsuccesful |
HF Transmit: 19.995 MHz, FSK/PDM |
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Cosmos 554 (Zenit-4MK 11Ф692, Germes) 1973-021A 6432 |
1973 Apr 19, 08:59 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Voskhod, 11A57 |
1973 Apr 19: 203 x 352 km, 72.9 deg, 90.1 min 1973 Apr 19: 171 x 334 km, 72.9 deg, 89.6 min 1973 Apr 20: 119 x 366 km, 72.8 deg, 89.4 min 1973 Apr 20: 173 x 332 km, 72.9 deg, 89.6 min 1973 Apr 23: 171 x 329 km, 72.9 deg, 89.6 min 1973 Apr 25: 171 x 380 km, 72.9 deg, 90.1 min 1973 May 05: 168 x 351 km, 72.9 deg, 89.8 min 1973 May 06: 226 x 352 km, 72.9 deg, 90.4 min |
Variant of the manoeuvrable Zenit-4M imaging satellite but with higher resolution film cameras. Disintegrated 1973 May7 approx 02:30 UTC, possibly by detonation of the self-destruct system following failed attempt(s) at retro-fire. Recovery was expected around 1973 May 3. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
HF Transmit: 19.990 MHz, FSK |
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Cosmos 1813 (Zenit-8 17Ф116, Oblik) 1987-004A 17297 |
1987 Jan 15, 11:20 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U 11A511U |
1987 Jan 15: 197 x 362 km, 72.9 deg, 90.2 min 1987 Jan 16: 357 x 416 km, 72.9 deg, 92.4 min 1987 Jan 22: 357 x 416 km, 72.9 deg, 92.4 min 1987 Jan 23: 358 x 416 km, 72.9 deg, 92.4 min 1987 Jan 28: 358 x 416 km, 72.9 deg, 92.4 min 1987 Feb 06: 359 x 416 km, 72.9 deg, 92.4 min 1987 Apr 19: 358 x 413 km, 72.9 deg, 92.3 min 1987 May 01: 357 x 414 km, 72.9 deg, 92.3 min 1989 Mar 13: 130 x 141 km, 72.8 deg, 87.3 min |
Imaging satellite equipped with film cameras for photo-reconnaissance. Capable of photographing at high slant angles. Re-entry cabin disintegrated 1987 Jan 29 approx 06:00 as a result of detonation of the self destruct sytem. The instrument unit continued to transmit until 1987 Jan 31. Following the explosion, the designation 1987-004A/17297 was applied to a large fragment, possibly a separated rocket motor. |
Re-entry Unsuccesful |
HF Transmit: 19.990 MHz, FSK |
VHF Transmit: 39.980 MHz, FSK |
Cosmos 1906 (Resurs-F2 17Ф42 №1) 1987-108A 18713 |
1987 Dec 26, 11:30 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U 11A511U |
1987 Dec 26: 182 x 245 km, 82.7 deg, 88.9 min 1987 Dec 27: 178 x 243 km, 82.6 deg, 88.8 min 1987 Dec 28: 258 x 278 km, 82.6 deg, 90.0 min 1988 Jan 30: 245 x 266 km, 82.6 deg, 89.7 min |
Imaging satellite equipped with multispectral and spectrozonal film cameras for studying the Earth in visible light and near-infrared and solar panels to allow an operational life of 30 days. The launch announcement mentioned "...continuing research into the Earth's natural resources..." and that incoming information was being passed to the 'Priroda' state scientific research centre. Disintegrated 1988 Jan 31 at approx 11:00 UTC, possibly following failed recovery attempt(s) and triggering of the self-destruct system. Recovery was expected 1988 Jan 25 after 30 days in orbit.
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Re-entry Unsuccesful |
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