DS satellites are a series of satellites made to be universal, and easily modifiable according to customer needs. After a first launch in 1962, almost two hundred satellites will be launched. Several generations of DS satellites will be developed, some used for scientific studies, while others will be used by the Red Army for radar calibration. After flying two demonstration series (DS-1 and DS-2), the DS satellites will have three universal versions (DS-U1, unstabilized and battery-powered, DS-U2, unstabilized and solar-powered, DS-U3, stabilized). Versions will also be produced to fly international experiments, leading to the Intercosmos program.

This flight flew a DS-1 satellite. The DS-1 is the first Soviet satellite which was not built by Sergei Korolyov's OKB-1, but by Mikhail Yanguel's OKB-586. Of very modest size (165 kg), it is mainly intended to test the Cosmos launcher (63S1), which has never yet flown. It is equipped with sensors to measure the stress undergone by a satellite when the launcher separates, as well as its angular velocity.

It also has a scientific vocation, since it is equipped with an LZ-7 sensor to measure cosmic rays. This experiment is carried out on behalf of the Institute of Applied Geophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union. The DS-1 also has the MBP-1 radio system to transmit its data to the ground.