# Cosmos 1220
**Wikidata**: [Q12753166](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753166)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1220

## Summary  
Cosmos 1220 was a Soviet US-P naval surveillance satellite launched in 1980 to monitor maritime activity, particularly during the Cold War. It was deployed using a Tsyklon-2 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, marking another mission in the US-P satellite series designed for electronic intelligence gathering.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: November 4, 1980, at 15:04:00 UTC.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1980-089A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number**: 12054.  
- **Class**: US-P (a Soviet electronic surveillance satellite type).  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Tsyklon-2, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket.  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90.  
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian.  
- **Wolfram Language Code**: Entity["Satellite", "12054"].  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1220?  
A: Cosmos 1220 was a naval surveillance satellite designed to monitor maritime communications and activity, part of the Soviet Union’s efforts to track naval movements during the Cold War.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1220 launched?  
A: It launched on November 4, 1980, at 15:04:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90 in Kazakhstan.  

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 1220?  
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Tsyklon-2 rocket, a Soviet-era expendable launch vehicle.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1220 represents a key component of the Soviet Union’s Cold War-era naval surveillance network. As part of the US-P satellite series, it played a critical role in electronic intelligence gathering, helping the Soviet military monitor global maritime activity and communications. Its launch via the Tsyklon-2 rocket underscores the technological capabilities of the Soviet space program, particularly in deploying specialized military satellites. While individual US-P missions like Cosmos 1220 were not publicly detailed, their collective impact highlights the strategic importance of space-based reconnaissance during the Cold War. This satellite contributed to the broader geopolitical tensions of the era, demonstrating how space assets were integral to national security efforts.  

## Notable For  
- **US-P Class Membership**: Part of the US-P satellite series, designed for electronic surveillance of naval communications.  
- **Tsyklon-2 Launch**: Utilized the Tsyklon-2 rocket, a workhorse for Soviet military satellite deployments.  
- **Cold War Maritime Monitoring**: Played a role in tracking naval movements, reflecting Soviet military priorities of the 1980s.  
- **Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Site**: Originated from a historic Soviet spaceport still in use today.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: November 4, 1980, at 15:04:00 UTC.  
- **Rocket**: Tsyklon-2, a liquid-fueled launch vehicle used extensively for Soviet military satellites.  
- **Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90, a launch pad specifically used for Tsyklon-2 missions.  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: US-P (Cyrillic: УС-П), a naval electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellite.  
- **Catalog Designation**: SATCAT 12054.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1980-089A, assigned by the Committee on Space Research.  

### Mission Context  
- **Purpose**: To detect and monitor naval radio communications and radar signals, supporting Soviet naval operations.  
- **Historical Significance**: Operated during a period of heightened Cold War tensions, contributing to the Soviet Union’s strategic intelligence capabilities.  
- **Legacy**: Part of a larger network of US-P satellites that formed a critical component of Soviet maritime surveillance efforts.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report