# Cosmos 1044
**Wikidata**: [Q12907270](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907270)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1044

## Summary
Cosmos 1044 (also known as Kosmos 1044) was a Soviet spy satellite launched on October 17, 1978. Designated as a Zenit 2M class spacecraft, it was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. It is identified internationally by the COSPAR ID 1978-097A and the satellite catalog number 11065.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 1044 is an instance of the Zenit 2M class of Soviet spy satellites.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on October 17, 1978.
- **Launch Time:** The launch took place at 15:00:00 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designator is 1978-097A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under Satcat No. 11065.
- **Alternative Name:** The entity is also aliased as "Kosmos 1044."

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1044?
A: Cosmos 1044 was a Soviet spy satellite specifically classified as a Zenit 2M.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1044 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on October 17, 1978, at 15:00:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1044?
A: It was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, which is a universal design variant of the Soyuz rocket family.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1044 serves as a specific historical data point within the extensive Soviet "Cosmos" program, a series that encompassed thousands of satellites used for scientific research, earth observation, and military reconnaissance. As a Zenit 2M satellite, Cosmos 1044 represents the technological progression of Soviet optical reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War, succeeding earlier models with improved systems.

The launch is also significant for its use of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, one of the most frequently used and reliable rockets in spaceflight history. By documenting specific mission details—such as the precise launch complex (Site 43/4) and time—Cosmos 1044 helps space historians and analysts map the launch cadence and operational logistics of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the late 1970s. This entry provides verifiable technical attributes that distinguish this specific mission from others in the series, which often shared similar designations but served varied operational lifespans and orbits.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct mission within the Zenit 2M series of reconnaissance satellites.
- Launching from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4, a specific pad at a major Russian spaceport.
- Utilization of the Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse of the Soviet space program.
- Inclusion in the Wolfram Language entity database as a recognized satellite object.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 1044 was a Soviet artificial satellite launched as part of the Kosmos program, a long-running initiative that disguised the true nature of military reconnaissance flights under generic scientific names. The spacecraft was a Zenit 2M, a class of vehicle explicitly designed for spy satellite operations.

### Launch Specifications
The mission was successfully executed on **October 17, 1978**. The lift-off occurred precisely at **15:00:00** UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was delivered to orbit by a **Soyuz-U** rocket. The Soyuz-U was a "Universal" variant of the Soyuz rocket family, widely used for both crewed and uncrewed missions during the Soviet era.
- **Launch Site:** The launch facility was **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**, located in the Soviet Union (modern-day Russia).

### Technical Identifiers
To facilitate international tracking and cataloging, Cosmos 1044 was assigned the following identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1978-097A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 11065

### Data Sources and References
The details regarding Cosmos 1044 are supported by structured data from Wikidata and are referenced in the Wolfram Language as `Entity["Satellite", "11065"]`. The satellite's classification as a Zenit 2M and its launch parameters are derived from these established databases.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report