Kosmos 68

Kosmos 68 (Russian: Космос 68 meaning Cosmos 68) or Zenit-2 No.28 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 68 was the twenty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched^[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 68

A Zenit reentry capsule
Names	Zenit 2-28
Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	OKB-1
COSPAR ID	1965-046A
SATCAT no.	1404
Mission duration	8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Zenit-2
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	15 June 1965, 10:04:00 GMT[2]
Rocket	Vostok-2
Launch site	Baikonur 31/6
Contractor	OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	23 June 1965
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric[3]
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	209 km
Apogee altitude	315 km
Inclination	65.0°
Period	89.8 minutes
Epoch	15 June 1965
Zenit programme Zenit-2 ← Zenit 2-27 Zenit 2-29 → Kosmos (satellites) ← Kosmos 67 Kosmos 69 →

Kosmos 68 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-01,^[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:04 GMT on 15 June 1965,^[7] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1965-046A and the Satellite Catalog Number 01404.

Kosmos 68 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 17 June 1965 it had a perigee of 209 kilometres (130 mi), an apogee of 315 kilometres (196 mi), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes. On 23 June 1965, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.^[8]