Zenit-2 No. 69L

Re-entered 18 Dec 1968

Zenit-2 No. 69L (NORAD 3602, COSPAR 1968-111A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Dec 1968, launched on 10 Dec 1968 on the Zenit-2 No. 69 mission. It was operated by TSUKOS as part of the Zenit-2 B 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.

1968

launched

1968

re-entered

years on orbit

2,100

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched10 Dec 1968 · on the Zenit-2 No. 69 mission

Operational18 Dec 1968 · entered service

Retired18 Dec 1968 · end of operational service

Re-entered18 Dec 1968 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID3602

COSPAR1968-111A

TypeSatellite

OperatorTSUKOS

Country / StateSU

ManufacturerTSKBE3

BusZenit-2

Mass2,100 kg

ProgrammeZenit-2 B

CategoryIMG

OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)

Altitude204 × 300 km

Inclination65.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Zenit-2 No. 69L?

Zenit-2 No. 69L re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Dec 1968, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1968. 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. 69L re-enter the atmosphere?

Zenit-2 No. 69L re-entered on 18 Dec 1968, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Zenit-2 No. 69L?

Zenit-2 No. 69L 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.

Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: Zenit-2 No. 69 → What is space debris? →