Kosmos 133

Kosmos 133 (Russian: Космос 133, meaning "Kosmos 133"), Soyuz 7K-OK No.2, was the first uncrewed test flight of the Soyuz spacecraft, and first mission of the Soyuz programme, as part of the Soviet space programme.

Kosmos 133

Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft with an active docking unit.
Mission type	Test Flight
Operator	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
COSPAR ID	1966-107A
SATCAT no.	02601
Mission duration	1 day, 23 hours and 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Soyuz 7K-OK No.2
Spacecraft type	Soyuz 7K-OK
Manufacturer	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
Launch mass	6450 kg[1]
Landing mass	2500 kg
Dimensions	7.13 m long 2.72 m wide
Start of mission
Launch date	28 November 1966 11:02:00 GMT[2]
Rocket	Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02
Launch site	Baikonour, Site 31/6
Contractor	Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
End of mission
Disposal	Exploded: on the self-destruct command of ground
Landing date	30 November 1966, 10:21 GMT (exploded)
Landing site	Kazakh Steppe of Kazakhstan (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[2]
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	171.0 km
Apogee altitude	223.0 km
Inclination	51.9°
Period	88.4 minutes
Soyuz programme Soyuz 7K-OK No.1 →

Launch

Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the maiden flight of the Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02 launch vehicle.^[3] Kosmos 133 was planned "all up" test, to include an automated docking with a second Soyuz spacecraft (Soyuz 7K-OK No.1), which was scheduled for launch the day after Kosmos 133.

Mission

Kosmos 133 was operated in a low Earth orbit, on 28 November 1966, it had a perigee of 171.0 km (106.3 mi), an apogee of 223.0 km (138.6 mi), an inclination of 51.9°, and an orbital period of 88.4 minutes.^[2]

Return

Problems found during ground testing of the second spacecraft resulted in its launch being delayed, and it was destroyed when its launch vehicle exploded on its launch pad following a scrubbed launch attempt in December 1966. Before this, the attitude control system (ACS) of Kosmos 133 malfunctioned, resulting in rapid consumption of orientation fuel, leaving it spinning at 2 rpm. After large efforts by ground control and 5 attempts at retrofire over two days, the craft was finally coming down for a landing. Due to the inaccuracy of the reentry burn, it was determined that the capsule would land in China. The self-destruct command was given and the satellite exploded 30 November 1966 at 10:21 GMT.^[1]

The fireball passed over west Japan and was recorded by photos and a sketch. Kōichirō Tomita identified that it was the Kosmos 133 spacecraft (30 November 1966).^[4]