# Cosmos 1187
**Wikidata**: [Q12907322](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907322)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1187

## Summary
Cosmos 1187 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on June 12, 1980. Identified as a Zenit 6U class spacecraft, it was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U rocket. It is tracked under the international designation 1980-048A and Satellite Catalog Number 11837.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 1187 is an instance of the Zenit 6U, a class of Soviet spy satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on June 12, 1980.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch took place at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.
*   **Launch Time:** The significant event (rocket launch) occurred at 12:30:00.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1980-048A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** It is cataloged as number 11837.
*   **Aliases:** It is also known as Kosmos 1187.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1187?
A: Cosmos 1187 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 6U class.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1187 launched?
A: It was launched on June 12, 1980, at 12:30:00 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1187?
A: The satellite was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a Universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design developed in the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1187 serves as a specific historical data point within the extensive Soviet reconnaissance program of the Cold War era. As a Zenit 6U satellite, it represents a generation of optical surveillance spacecraft utilized by the Soviet Union for intelligence gathering. The mission highlights the operational reliance on the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 41, for deploying spy satellites into orbit.

Furthermore, the utilization of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle underscores the critical role this universal rocket variant played in Soviet space infrastructure, serving as the workhorse for a wide array of military and scientific payloads. By cataloging this entity with precise identifiers such as the COSPAR ID (1980-048A) and Satellite Catalog Number (11837), space historians and trackers can distinguish this specific mission from the thousands of other "Cosmos" designations used by the Soviet Union to obscure the military nature of such flights. The mission is a testament to the routine yet secretive expansion of Soviet space-based surveillance capabilities in 1980.

## Notable For
*   **Military Function:** Being a identified member of the Zenit 6U class of Soviet spy satellites.
*   **Launch Platform:** Utilizing the Soyuz-U, one of the most prolific launch vehicles in space history.
*   **Specific Timing:** Having a precisely recorded launch time of 12:30:00 on its launch date.
*   **Site Specificity:** Launching from Site 41 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary hub for military space launches.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 1187 was a military spacecraft operated by the Soviet Union. Its designation follows the standard Soviet practice of naming military satellites "Cosmos" to mask their specific reconnaissance objectives. The spacecraft is formally classified as a Zenit 6U satellite.

### Launch Details
The satellite successfully achieved orbit on June 12, 1980. The launch operation was managed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically utilizing Site 41/1. The lift-off occurred precisely at 12:30:00 UTC.

### Vehicle and Infrastructure
The launch vehicle assigned to this mission was the Soyuz-U. This rocket is a variant of the Soyuz family, characterized as a "Universal" booster capable of carrying both crewed and uncrewed payloads. The Soyuz-U was a standard launcher for Soviet military satellites during this period.

### Identification and Tracking
For international tracking and cataloging, Cosmos 1187 is identified by the following parameters:
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1980-048A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 11837
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "11837"]

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report