# Cosmos 1202
**Wikidata**: [Q12753158](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753158)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1202

## Summary
Cosmos 1202 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on July 24, 1980. Identified as a Zenit 6U class spacecraft, it was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. It is assigned the international COSPAR ID 1980-065A.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 1202 is an instance of the Zenit 6U class, a type of Soviet spy satellite.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on July 24, 1980.
- **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.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1980-065A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It holds the SCN value of 11907.
- **Launch Event Specifics:** The launch took place at 12:40:00 UTC.
- **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as Kosmos 1202.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1202?
A: Cosmos 1202 was a Soviet spy satellite specifically classified as a Zenit 6U. This designation indicates its role in military reconnaissance.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1202 launched?
A: The satellite launched on July 24, 1980, at 12:40:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1202?
A: A Soyuz-U rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1202. This was a "Universal" variant of the Soviet Soyuz rocket family.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1202 represents a specific data point in the extensive history of the Soviet Union's space-based reconnaissance programs during the Cold War. As a Zenit 6U satellite, it belongs to a class of vessels critical to Soviet intelligence gathering, utilized for monitoring and strategic assessment. The launch demonstrates the operational reliance on the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the Soyuz-U launch system, which was a workhorse for Soviet military payloads. By cataloging this mission—designated 1980-065A—researchers can track the deployment rates and capabilities of space infrastructure during this era. The mission illustrates the standardization of Soviet space efforts, utilizing established rocket designs like the Soyuz-U to deploy repeated iterations of spy satellites (Zenit 6U) into orbit.

## Notable For
- **Military Application:** Distinguished as a Soviet spy satellite (Zenit 6U class).
- **Launch Platform:** Utilized the Soyuz-U, a heavily utilized launch vehicle with 18 recorded sitelinks in related data.
- **Specific Timing:** Launch data is precise down to the second (12:40:00).
- **Naming Convention:** Follows the "Cosmos" designation used by the Soviet Union to obscure the military nature of reconnaissance flights.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 1202 was a spacecraft designated as a **Zenit 6U**, a class of Soviet spy satellite. Its specific mission function falls under military reconnaissance. In international catalogs, it is identified by the **COSPAR ID 1980-065A** and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **11907**. The entity is also referred to by the alias **Kosmos 1202**.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **July 24, 1980**. The launch event was significant for its precision, occurring at exactly **12:40:00**.
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.
- **Vehicle:** The launch was executed using a **Soyuz-U** rocket. The Soyuz-U is a Universal variant of the Soyuz rocket family, manufactured and operated by the Soviet Union.

### Technical Context
The Zenit 6U class represents a specific configuration of the Zenit satellite series. The launch vehicle, Soyuz-U, is noted in related records as a "Universal" design variant with significant historical usage (indicated by a sitelink count of 18 in source documentation). The launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 aligns with standard Soviet protocols for military satellite deployments of this era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report