Kosmos 111
Kosmos 111 is identical in design with Luna 10 | |
| Mission type | Lunar orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-017A |
| SATCAT no. | 2093 |
| Mission duration | 2 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | E-6S |
| Manufacturer | GSMZ Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 6540 kg |
| Dry mass | 1580 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 March 1966, 11:03:49 GMT |
| Rocket | Molniya-M |
| Launch site | Baikonur 31/6 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Launch failure |
| Decay date | 3 March 1966 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 182 km |
| Apogee altitude | 194 km |
| Inclination | 51.9° |
| Period | 88.6 minutes |
| Epoch | 1 March 1966 |
Kosmos 111 (Russian: Космос 111 meaning Cosmos 111), E-6S No.204, was the first Soviet attempt to orbit a spacecraft around the Moon. The design was similar to the future successful Luna 10 spacecraft. Kosmos 111 was produced in less than a month, one of two spacecraft developed from the E-6 lander bus in a crash program to upstage America's Lunar Orbiter series and to commemorate the 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), held in March 1966.