Kosmos 143 (Russian: Космос 143 meaning Cosmos 143) or Zenit-2 No.45 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1967. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 143 was the forty-sixth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched^[3][4] and had a mass of 1,730 kilograms (3,810 lb).^[1]

Kosmos 143 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number U15001-03,^[5] flying from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 08:45:01 GMT on 27 February 1967,^[6] and following its arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1967-017A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02693. A minor anomaly during launch resulted in the satellite's orbit being slightly lower than had been planned, with its orbital period being 22.8 seconds shorter than the target orbit.^[1] Despite this the satellite performed its mission successfully. The satellite also carried a science package.^[1]

Kosmos 143 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 27 February 1967, it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 297 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.^[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 143 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 05:46 GMT on 7 March 1967, and recovered by Soviet force.^[7]

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