| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1967-126A |
| SATCAT no. | 03079 |
| Mission duration | 34 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-U2-V |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 325 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 December 1967 09:01:59 GMT |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar, Site 86/4 |
| Contractor | Yuzhnoye |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 30 January 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 217 km |
| Apogee altitude | 486 km |
| Inclination | 48.5° |
| Period | 91.5 minutes |
| Epoch | 26 December 1967 |
Kosmos 197 (Russian: Космос 197 meaning Cosmos 197), also known as DS-U2-V No.3, was a Soviet satellite which was launched in 1967 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. It was a 325 kilograms (717 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Office, and was used to conduct classified technology development experiments for the Soviet armed forces.[3]
A Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 197 into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar.[4] The launch occurred at 09:01:59 GMT on 26 December 1967, and resulted in the successful insertion of the satellite into orbit.[5] Upon reaching orbit, the satellite was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1967-126A. The North American Air Defense Command assigned it the catalogue number 03079.[1]
Kosmos 197 was the third of four DS-U2-V satellites to be launched.[6] It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 217 kilometres (135 mi), an apogee of 486 kilometres (302 mi), an inclination of 48.5°, and an orbital period of 91.5 minutes.[2] On 30 January 1968, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.[7]
