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ZOND 5

NSSDC ID: 68-076A

Description:
Zond 5 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (68-076B) in
earth parking orbit to make scientific probes during a lunar
flyby and to return to earth. On September 18, 1968, the
spacecraft flew around the moon. The closest distance was
1950 km. High quality photographs of the earth were taken at
a distance of 90,000 km. A biological payload of turtles, wine
flies, meal worms, plants, seeds, bacteria, and other living
matter was included in the flight. On September 21, 1968, the
reentry capsule entered the earth's atmosphere, braked aero-
dynamically, and deployed parachutes at 7 km. The capsule
splashed down in the Indian ocean and was successfully
recovered. The spacecraft was a precursor to manned
spacecraft. 

Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1968-09-14
Launch Site/Country: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), 
                                   U.S.S.R.
Launch Vehicle: Proton Booster Plus Upper Stage and
                           Escape Stages
On-orbit dry mass: 5375.00 kg 

Orbital Information:
Orbit: Orbiter
Central Body: Earth
Epoch start date/time: 1968.258:00:00:00 (14 Sep.)
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