Kosmos 115

Kosmos 115 (Russian: Космос 115 meaning Cosmos 115) or Zenit-2 No.37 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 115 was the thirty-seventh of eighty-one such satellites to be launched^[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 115

A Zenit reentry capsule
Names	Zenit 2-37
Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	OKB-1
COSPAR ID	1966-033A
SATCAT no.	2147
Mission duration	7 days, 22 hours and 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Zenit-2
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	20 April 1966, 10:48:00 GMT
Rocket	Vostok-2
Launch site	Baikonur 31/6
Contractor	OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	28 April 1966, 09:07 GMT[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric[3]
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	201 km
Apogee altitude	294 km
Inclination	65.0°
Period	89.3 minutes
Epoch	20 April 1966
Zenit programme Zenit-2 ← Zenit 2-36 Zenit 2-38 → Kosmos (satellites) ← Kosmos 114 Kosmos 116 →

Kosmos 115 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket^[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:48 GMT on 20 April 1966,^[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-033A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02147.^[1]

Kosmos 115 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 22 April 1966, it had a perigee of 201 kilometres (125 mi), an apogee of 294 kilometres (183 mi), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.3 minutes.^[3][8] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 115 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 09:07 GMT on 28 April 1966 and the capsule was recovered by Soviet force. There was abnormal operation of a SA-10 camera. Due to a camera malfunction, the satellite failed to take all of the images it had been programmed to produce.^[2]