Kosmos 305

Kosmos 305
A Ye-8-5 model in the Museum of Cosmonautics, Moscow.
OperatorSoviet space program
COSPAR ID1969-092A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.4150
Mission duration2 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeYe-8-5
ManufacturerGSMZ Lavochkin
Launch mass5,600 kg (12,300 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 22, 1969, 14:09:00 (1969-10-22UTC14:09Z) UTC[2]
RocketProton-K/D
Launch siteBaikonur 81/24
End of mission
DisposalLaunch failure
Decay dateOctober 24, 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[2]
Perigee altitude182 km (113 mi)
Apogee altitude208 km (129 mi)
Inclination51.4°
Period88.4 min

Kosmos 305 (Russian: Космос 305 meaning Cosmos 305) (Ye-8-5 series) was the fifth Soviet attempt at an uncrewed lunar sample return. It was probably similar in design to the Luna 16 spacecraft. It was launched, on a Proton rocket, on October 22, 1969.[3] The engines on the Block D upper stage failed, terminating the mission. This left the spacecraft stranded in Earth orbit. It re-entered within two days.[4]

References

  1. ^ "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Cosmos 305". Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Luna Ye-8-5 - Encyclopedia Astronautica". Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Luna - Exploring the Moon". orbitalfocus.uk. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Siddiqi, Asif A. (2018). "Kosmos 305 [Luna]" (PDF). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958-2016. NASA History Program Office: 92. Retrieved February 23, 2023.


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