| Mission type | ABM radar target | 
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1970-112A | 
| SATCAT no. | 04811  | 
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-P1-Yu | 
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye | 
| Launch mass | 325 kilograms (717 lb) | 
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 December 1970, 09:39:13 UTC | 
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM | 
| Launch site | Plesetsk 133/1 | 
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 10 May 1971 | 
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric | 
| Regime | Low Earth | 
| Perigee altitude | 263 kilometres (163 mi) | 
| Apogee altitude | 479 kilometres (298 mi) | 
| Inclination | 70.9 degrees | 
| Period | 92 minutes | 
Kosmos 388 (Russian: Космос 388 meaning Cosmos 388), known before launch as DS-P1-Yu No.43, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1970 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 325-kilogram (717 lb) spacecraft, which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and was used as a radar calibration target for anti-ballistic missile tests.[1]
Launch
Kosmos 388 was successfully launched into low Earth orbit on 18 December 1970, with the rocket lifting off at 09:39:13 UTC.[2] The launch took place from Site 133/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome,[3] and used a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1970-112A.[4]
Orbit
Kosmos 388 was the thirty-eighth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the thirty-fifth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5] It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 263 kilometres (163 mi), an apogee of 479 kilometres (298 mi), 70.9 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 92 minutes.[1][6] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 10 May 1971.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 Wade, Mark. "DS-P1-Yu". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Kosmos 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ↑ "Cosmos 388". NSSDC Master Catalog. US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "DS-P1-Yu (11F618)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 15 August 2009.