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Soviet Space ProgramKosmos-3M (11K65M)132/2, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Sfera 8

Launched

March 25, 1972

Launch Successful

Image: Julio Perez Suarez

Summary

Sfera 8 launched on a Soviet Space Program Kosmos-3M (11K65M) from 132/2, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation on March 25, 1972. It was Soviet Space Program's 644th launch, 12th this year and humanity's 1,327th orbital launch attempt. It was the 53rd Kosmos-3M (11K65M) flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Kosmos-480, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 1,179 × 1,198 km orbit inclined 83.0°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Kosmos-3M (11K65M) · Soviet Space Program
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Earth Science · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
53rd Kosmos-3M (11K65M) flight · 3rd this yearSoviet Space Program's 644th launch12th this yearhumanity's 1,327th orbital launch attempt21st orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

83.0°Inclination
1179 × 1198 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
109.0 minPeriodfrom mean elements
245.7°Ascending node
19928 d agoElement epoch1972-03-25 05:36 UTC · stale

Kosmos-480 · NORAD 5905 · 1972-019 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
COSMOS 480
Object ID
1972-019A
Epoch
1972-03-25 05:36:23 UTC
Mean motion
13.20856926 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.00125
Inclination
82.9992°
Ascending node
245.7473°
Arg. of perigee
209.3179°
Mean anomaly
150.7199°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit

  • Kosmos-480 · NORAD 5905 · in orbit

Kosmos-3M 27-123 Stage 2 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The Sfera or Geoid series were the first soviet geodetic satellites to improve the accuracy of maps. The development of the satellites started in 1965 at NPO-PM.

Pad

Map of 132/2

132/2, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

35th launch from 132/2, 3rd this year · 226th from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

172 launches from this pad · 1,688 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

2 days 5 hours after the previous launch from this pad

Questions

When did Sfera 8 launch?

Sfera 8 launched on March 25, 1972. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Sfera 8?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched Sfera 8?

Kosmos-3M (11K65M), flown by Soviet Space Program. Kosmos-3M (11K65M) spec sheet

Where did Sfera 8 launch from?

132/2, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation.

What orbit did Sfera 8 reach?

Kosmos-480, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 1,179 × 1,198 km orbit inclined 83.0°.

How many satellites did Sfera 8 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).