Kosmos 173 (Russian: Космос 173 meaning Cosmos 173), also known as DS-P1-Yu No.8 was a Soviet satellite which was used as a radar calibration target for tests of anti-ballistic missiles.

It was a 325 kilograms (717 lb) spacecraft,[1] was built by the Yuzhnoye, and launched in 1967 as part of the Dnepropetrovsk Sputnik programme.

[3] A Kosmos-2I 63SM carrier rocket was used to launch Kosmos 173 from Site 133/1 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

[4] The launch occurred at 04:59:49 GMT on 24 August 1967, and resulted in Kosmos 173's successful deployment into low Earth orbit.

[2] It remained in orbit until it decayed and reentered the atmosphere on 17 December 1967.