| Kosmos 133 | |
| Mission Type: | Test Flight |
| Operator: | Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1) |
| Cospar Id: | 1966-107A |
| Satcat: | 02601 |
| Spacecraft: | Soyuz 7K-OK No.2 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Soyuz 7K-OK |
| Manufacturer: | Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1) |
| Launch Mass: | 6450 kg |
| Landing Mass: | 2500 kg |
| Dimensions: | 7.13 m long 2.72 m wide |
| Launch Date: | 28 November 1966 11:02:00 GMT |
| Launch Rocket: | Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonour, Site 31/6 |
| Launch Contractor: | Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1) |
| Disposal Type: | Exploded: on the self-destruct command of ground |
| Landing Date: | 30 November 1966, 10:21 GMT (exploded) |
| Landing Site: | Kazakh Steppe of Kazakhstan (planned) |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth orbit |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 171.0 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 223.0 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 51.9° |
| Orbit Period: | 88.4 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Soyuz programme |
| Next Mission: | Soyuz 7K-OK No.1 |
Kosmos 133 (ru|Космос 133, meaning "Kosmos 133"), Soyuz 7K-OK No.2, was the first uncrewed test flight of the Soyuz spacecraft, and first mission of the Soyuz programme, as part of the Soviet space programme.
Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the maiden flight of the Soyuz 11A511 s/n U15000-02 launch vehicle.[1] Kosmos 133 was planned "all up" test, to include an automated docking with a second Soyuz spacecraft (Soyuz 7K-OK No.1), which was scheduled for launch the day after Kosmos 133.
Kosmos 133 was operated in a low Earth orbit, on 28 November 1966, it had a perigee of, an apogee of, an inclination of 51.9°, and an orbital period of 88.4 minutes.[2]
Problems found during ground testing of the second spacecraft resulted in its launch being delayed, and it was destroyed when its launch vehicle exploded on its launch pad following a scrubbed launch attempt in December 1966. Before this, the attitude control system (ACS) of Kosmos 133 malfunctioned, resulting in rapid consumption of orientation fuel, leaving it spinning at 2 rpm. After large efforts by ground control and 5 attempts at retrofire over two days, the craft was finally coming down for a landing. Due to the inaccuracy of the reentry burn, it was determined that the capsule would land in China. The self-destruct command was given and the satellite exploded 30 November 1966 at 10:21 GMT.[3]
The fireball passed over west Japan and was recorded by photos and a sketch. Kōichirō Tomita identified that it was the Kosmos 133 spacecraft (30 November 1966).[4]