Kosmos 124

Kosmos 124 (Космос 124 meaning Cosmos 124) or Zenit-2 No.42 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 124 was the fortieth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched and had a mass of 4730 kg.

Kosmos 124 was launched by a Voskhod 11A57 rocket with serial number N15001-14, flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:33 GMT on 14 July 1966, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-064A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02325.

Kosmos 124 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 14 July 1966, it had a perigee of 205 km, an apogee of 286 km, an inclination of 51.8°, and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes. After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 124 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute, landing at 09:22 GMT on 22 July 1966, and recovered by Soviet force.