Zenit-2 No. 49L

Re-entered 20 May 1967

Zenit-2 No. 49L (NORAD 2781, COSPAR 1967-044A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 20 May 1967, launched on 12 May 1967 on the Zenit-2 No. 49 mission. It was operated by TSUKOS as part of the Zenit-2 A programme. The spacecraft was built by TSKBE3 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.

1967

launched

1967

re-entered

years on orbit

2,100

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched12 May 1967 · on the Zenit-2 No. 49 mission

Operational20 May 1967 · entered service

Retired20 May 1967 · end of operational service

Re-entered20 May 1967 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID2781

COSPAR1967-044A

TypeSatellite

OperatorTSUKOS

Country / StateSU

ManufacturerTSKBE3

BusZenit-2

Mass2,100 kg

ProgrammeZenit-2 A

CategoryIMG

OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)

Altitude200 × 283 km

Inclination51.3°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Zenit-2 No. 49L?

Zenit-2 No. 49L re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 20 May 1967, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1967. 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. 49L re-enter the atmosphere?

Zenit-2 No. 49L re-entered on 20 May 1967, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Zenit-2 No. 49L?

Zenit-2 No. 49L was operated by TSUKOS and built by TSKBE3 (SU).

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

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