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Zenit-2 No. 41L

Re-entered 16 Jun 1966

Zenit-2 No. 41L (NORAD 2196, COSPAR 1966-050A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 16 Jun 1966, launched on 8 Jun 1966 on the Zenit-2 No. 41 mission. It was operated by TSUKOS as part of the Zenit-2 B programme. The spacecraft was built by OKB1F3 on the Zenit-2 bus, with a mass of 2,100 kg. Like most satellites in low orbits, it was gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until re-entry. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1966
launched
1966
re-entered
0
years on orbit
2,100
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched8 Jun 1966 · on the Zenit-2 No. 41 mission
Operational16 Jun 1966 · entered service
Retired16 Jun 1966 · end of operational service
Re-entered16 Jun 1966 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID2196
COSPAR1966-050A
TypeSatellite
OperatorTSUKOS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerOKB1F3
BusZenit-2
Mass2,100 kg
ProgrammeZenit-2 B
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude200 × 286 km
Inclination51.8°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Zenit-2 No. 41L?

Zenit-2 No. 41L re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 16 Jun 1966, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1966. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Zenit-2 No. 41L re-enter the atmosphere?

Zenit-2 No. 41L re-entered on 16 Jun 1966, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Zenit-2 No. 41L?

Zenit-2 No. 41L was operated by TSUKOS and built by OKB1F3 (SU).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.