Kosmos 122 was a Soviet satellite launched on June 25, 1966. It was part of the Kosmos series and served as a prototype for the Meteor-1 meteorological satellite system. The spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Vostok-2M launch vehicle.
Mission and Instrumentation The primary objective of Kosmos 122 was to test instrumentation and systems intended for the permanent Meteor weather satellite network. It was equipped with several instruments for atmospheric observation:
- Television Cameras: Two cameras were used to photograph cloud cover on the daylight side of the Earth.
- Infrared Sensors: These sensors allowed for the observation of cloud cover on the night side of the planet and the measurement of Earth's surface and cloud-top temperatures.
- Actinometers: These instruments were used to measure the Earth's radiation balance, specifically the reflected solar radiation and emitted long-wave radiation.
Historical Significance Kosmos 122 is notable for being the first Soviet meteorological satellite to share data internationally. Following the launch, the Soviet Union began transmitting cloud cover images and other meteorological data to the United States and the World Meteorological Center in accordance with a bilateral agreement on space cooperation. This marked a significant period of scientific data exchange during the Cold War.
Orbital Characteristics The satellite was placed into a near-circular low Earth orbit with an initial altitude of approximately 625 kilometers (388 miles) and an orbital inclination of 65 degrees. It maintained this orbit until its mission concluded. The spacecraft eventually decayed and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on November 21, 1968.
