Kosmos 117
# Kosmos 117

Kosmos 117 (Russian: Космос 117 meaning Cosmos 117) or Zenit-2 No.39 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 117 was the thirty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 117 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number N15001-01, flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 6 May 1966, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-037A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02163.

Kosmos 117 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 6 May 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 298 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes. After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 117 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 08:24 GMT on 14 May 1966 and recovered by Soviet force.

