Tyazhely Sputnik

Soviet unmanned spacecraft launched in 1961 towards Venus, lost in a launch vehicle failure. Tyazhely Sputnik was launched on February 4, 1961 aboard a Molniya 8K78 from Baikonur. Latest status in GCAT: reentered attached to another object (Feb 26, 1961).

COSPAR 1961 BET 1NORAD 71Soviet Union

Identity

Name in GCAT: Tyazholiy Sputnik
Common name: Tyazhely Sputnik
Payload designation: 1VA No. 1
International designator: 1961 BET 1
NORAD catalog number: 71
GCAT identifier: S00071
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.002

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: MV
Owner: OKB-1
Country: Soviet Union
Builder: OKB-1 im. S.P. Korolev
Platform (bus): 1VA

Launch

Date: February 4, 1961 · 01:18 UTC
Launch record: 1961 BETFailure · 0.4
Rocket: Molniya 8K78
Spaceport: Baikonur · pad LC1

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): LLEO/I
Perigee: 179 km
Apogee: 296 km
Inclination: 64.90°
Status: Reentered attached to another object
Status date: February 26, 1961
Last known active: Feb 4, 1961
End of operations: Feb 4, 1961

Size

Mass: 620 kg
Dry mass: 620 kg
Total mass with attached objects: 5,620 kg
Length: 2.0 m
Diameter: 1.00 m
Span: 3.0 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q40610 (CC0).