Venera 2MV-2 No.1

2MV-2 No.1
Mission typeVenus flyby
OperatorOKB-1
Harvard designation1962 Alpha Phi 1
COSPAR ID1962-045A
SATCAT no.389
Mission durationLaunch failure
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type2MV-2
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass6,500 kilograms (14,300 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date12 September 1962, 00:59:13 (1962-09-12UTC00:59:13Z) UTC
RocketMolniya 8K78 s/n T103-14
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5
End of mission
Decay date14 September 1962 (1962-09-15)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth (achieved)
Heliocentric (intended)
Semi-major axis6,550 kilometres (4,070 mi)
Eccentricity0.02977
Perigee altitude163 kilometres (101 mi)
Apogee altitude195 kilometres (121 mi)
Inclination64.8 degrees
Period88.07 minutes
Epoch1962-09-11, 21:40:00 UTC

Venera 2MV-2 No.1, also known as Sputnik 21 in the West, was a Soviet spacecraft, which was launched in 1962 as part of the Venera programme, and was intended to make a flyby of Venus. Due to a problem with the rocket which launched it, it failed to leave low Earth orbit, and reentered the atmosphere a few days later. It was the second Venera 2MV-2 spacecraft, both of which failed to leave Earth orbit.