| Mission type | ABM radar target |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1968-043A |
| SATCAT no. | 03269 |
| Mission duration | 464 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | DS-P1-Yu |
| Manufacturer | Yuzhnoye |
| Launch mass | 400 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 May 1968, 07:04:50 GMT |
| Rocket | Kosmos-2I 63SM |
| Launch site | Kapustin Yar, Site 86/4 |
| Contractor | Yuzhnoye |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 31 August 1969 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 218 km |
| Apogee altitude | 2086 km |
| Inclination | 48.4° |
| Period | 108.3 minutes |
| Epoch | 24 May 1968 |
Kosmos 221 (Russian: Космос 221 meaning Cosmos 221), also known as DS-P1-Yu No.14, was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles. It was built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and launched in 1968 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.[1] It had a mass of 400 kilograms (880 lb).[1]
Kosmos 221 was launched from Site 86/4 at Kapustin Yar,[2] atop a Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket. The launch occurred on 24 May 1968 at 07:04:50 GMT, and resulted in Kosmos 221's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.[3] Upon reaching orbit, it was assigned its Kosmos designation, and received the International Designator 1968-043A.
Kosmos 221 was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 218 kilometres (135 mi), an apogee of 2,086 kilometres (1,296 mi), an inclination of 48.4°, and an orbital period of 108.3 minutes.[1][4] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 31 August 1969.[4] It was the thirteenth of seventy nine DS-P1-Yu satellites to be launched,[1] and the twelfth of seventy two to successfully reach orbit.[5]
