Kosmos 257

Soviet military satellite. Kosmos 257 was launched on December 3, 1968 aboard a Kosmos 11K63 from Plesetsk. Latest status in GCAT: reentered (orbital decay) (Mar 5, 1969).

COSPAR 1968-107ANORAD 3578Soviet Union

Identity

Name in GCAT: Kosmos-257
Common name: Kosmos 257
Payload designation: DS-P1-Yu No. 17L
International designator: 1968-107A
NORAD catalog number: 3578
GCAT identifier: S03578
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.203

Mission

Mission type: Calibration
Use: Defense
Program: DS-P1-Yu A
Owner: PVO
Country: Soviet Union
Builder: Southern State Design Bureau
Platform (bus): DS-P1

Launch

Date: December 3, 1968 · 14:52 UTC
Launch record: 1968-107Success
Rocket: Kosmos 11K63
Spaceport: Plesetsk · pad LC133/3

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): LLEO/I
Perigee: 261 km
Apogee: 396 km
Inclination: 70.96°
Status: Reentered (orbital decay)
Status date: March 5, 1969
Last known active: Mar 5, 1969
End of operations: Mar 5, 1969

Size

Mass: 200 kg
Dry mass: 200 kg
Length: 1.2 m
Diameter: 1.20 m
Span: 1.2 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q51579 (CC0).