Kosmos 24

Kosmos 24 (Russian: Космос 24 meaning Cosmos 24) or Zenit-2 No.15 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite. It was a first generation, low resolution spacecraft. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 24 was the fifteenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched^[3][4] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 24

A Zenit reentry capsule
Names	Zenit 2-15
Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	Soviet space program
COSPAR ID	1963-052A
SATCAT no.	712
Mission duration	9 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Zenit-2
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	19 December 1963 09:21:00 GMT
Rocket	Vostok-2
Launch site	Baikonur 1/5
Contractor	OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	28 December 1963
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric[2]
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	204 km
Apogee altitude	391 km
Inclination	65.0°
Period	90.5 minutes
Epoch	19 December 1963
Zenit programme Zenit-2 ← Zenit 2-14 Zenit 2-16 → Kosmos (satellites) ← Kosmos 23 Kosmos 25 →

A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-03,^[5] was used to launch Kosmos 24. The launch took place at 09:28:58 UTC on 19 December 1963, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.^[6] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-052A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00712.

Kosmos 24 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 19 December 1963, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 391 kilometres (243 mi), with inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 90.5 minutes.^[7] Having spent nine days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 28 December 1963. Its return capsule descended under parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.