The DS-U1-G satellites were two Soviet satellites which were launched in 1966 and 1967 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme. They were 291 kg spacecrafts, which were built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, and were used to study the effects of solar activity on the upper atmosphere.
Kosmos carrier rockets were used to launch the satellites into low Earth orbit from Kapustin Yar. Upon successfully reaching orbit, the satellites received Kosmos designations.
Kosmos 108 was the first of two DS-U1-G satellites to be launched. It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 190 km, an apogee of 344 km, 48.8 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 89.8 minutes. It completed operations on 26 February 1966. On 21 November 1966, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.
Kosmos 196 was the second of two DS-U1-G satellites to be launched. It was operated in an orbit with a perigee of 220 km, an apogee of 810 km, 48.8 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 94.9 minutes. It completed operations on 7 February 1968. On 7 July 1968, it decayed from orbit and reentered the atmosphere.
These missions provided valuable information on correlation between solar activity and condition of the atmosphere. A model for the middle-atmosphere was established.
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