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 typeTest Flight
OperatorExperimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
COSPAR ID1966-107A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02601
Mission duration1 day, 23 hours and 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSoyuz 7K-OK No.2
Spacecraft typeSoyuz 7K-OK
ManufacturerExperimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
Launch mass6450 kg[1]
Landing mass2500 kg
Dimensions7.13 m long
2.72 m wide
Start of mission
Launch date28 November 1966
11:02:00 GMT[2]
RocketSoyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02
Launch siteBaikonour, Site 31/6
ContractorExperimental Design Bureau (OKB-1)
End of mission
DisposalExploded: on the self-destruct command of ground
Landing date30 November 1966, 10:21 GMT (exploded)
Landing siteKazakh Steppe of Kazakhstan (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude171.0 km
Apogee altitude223.0 km
Inclination51.9°
Period88.4 minutes

Launch

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Display: Kosmos 133 1966-107A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Trajectory: Kosmos 133 1966-107A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ 加茂昭, Kamo, Akira (2012). 空とぶマネキン人形 [Flying Mannequin Doll / Mannequin Cosmonaut]. Japan: Seikosha 星湖舎. ISBN 9784863720275.