NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1971-027A
From its initial orbit, Cosmos 404 climbed to a circular orbit in the same plane as Cosmos 400 and left no stage at the lower orbit. Because the relative velocity of Cosmos 404 was close to that of Cosmos 400, the two spacecraft flew close together longer than other spacecraft had during flybys. After flybys, Cosmos 404 was not exploded into a cloud of debris. Instead, it was fired into a new orbit from which it rapidly decayed, with the remaining debris falling into the ocean.
Launch Date: 1971-04-04
Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon
Launch Site: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), U.S.S.R
Mass: 3320 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office