# Cosmos 1226
**Wikidata**: [Q13566513](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566513)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1226

## Summary
Cosmos 1226 (also known as Kosmos 1226) was a Soviet navigation satellite launched in 1980 as part of the Tsikada class. It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: December 10, 1980  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1980-099A  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 12091  
- **Class**: Tsikada (Soviet navigation satellite)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch occurred at 20:53:00 UTC on December 10, 1980  
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 1226  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1226?  
A: Cosmos 1226 was a Soviet navigation satellite belonging to the Tsikada class, designed for maritime and aeronautical positioning.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1226 launched?  
A: It was launched on December 10, 1980, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 using a Kosmos-3M rocket.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1226?  
A: As part of the Tsikada system, it provided navigation support for Soviet maritime and aviation operations.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1226 was part of the Tsikada satellite network, a critical Soviet-era navigation system that predated modern GPS. These satellites enabled precise positioning for military and civilian maritime and aeronautical applications, enhancing operational accuracy and safety. The Tsikada system laid groundwork for later global navigation systems, demonstrating the USSR's advancements in space-based positioning technology during the Cold War. Its launch underscored the strategic importance of independent navigation capabilities in an era of growing reliance on satellite technology.  

## Notable For  
- **Early Navigation Satellite**: One of the Soviet Union's operational navigation satellites before GPS dominance.  
- **Tsikada Class**: Part of a specialized maritime and aeronautical positioning system.  
- **Kosmos-3M Launch**: Deployed using a reliable Soviet rocket with a long service history.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: December 10, 1980  
- **Time**: 20:53:00 UTC  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Tsikada  
- **Catalog Number**: 12091  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1980-099A  

### Operational Context  
- **Purpose**: Navigation support for Soviet maritime and aviation operations.  
- **Predecessor Systems**: Contributed to the development of later global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report