# Cosmos 1240
**Wikidata**: [Q12907336](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907336)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1240

## Summary
Cosmos 1240 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched on January 20, 1981, as part of the Yantar-2K program. It was designed for optical intelligence gathering and operated from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U rocket. The mission represents a key component of Cold War-era space-based surveillance efforts by the USSR.

## Key Facts
- Official designation: Cosmos 1240
- Alternate name: Kosmos 1240
- Launch date: January 20, 1981
- Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- Launch time: 11:00 UTC
- Satellite class: Yantar-2K (reconnaissance satellite)
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz-U
- COSPAR ID: 1981-005A
- SCN (Spacecraft Number): 12143
- Operated by: Soviet Union

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1240?
A: Cosmos 1240 was a military reconnaissance satellite developed under the Yantar-2K program to conduct optical surveillance from orbit. It gathered intelligence imagery for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1240 launched?
A: Cosmos 1240 was launched on January 20, 1981, at 11:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 in Kazakhstan, which was then part of the Soviet Union.

### Q: What kind of rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1240?
A: Cosmos 1240 was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a widely used variant of the Soyuz launcher family known for carrying various Soviet satellites into orbit.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1240 exemplifies the technological capabilities and strategic priorities of the Soviet space program during the height of the Cold War. As part of the Yantar-2K series, it contributed to the USSR’s ability to monitor global developments through orbital reconnaissance. These missions were critical in maintaining geopolitical intelligence parity with the United States and its allies. Its successful deployment demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-U launch system and supported broader advancements in Earth observation technology. The satellite also reflects the classified nature of much of the space race's latter phase, where orbital assets played increasingly vital roles beyond symbolic achievement.

## Notable For
- Part of the advanced Yantar-2K optical reconnaissance satellite program
- Launched via the highly reliable Soyuz-U rocket
- One of multiple Cosmos-designated military satellites launched by the Soviet Union in 1981
- Represents continued evolution of Soviet imaging technology in low Earth orbit
- Assigned SCN number 12143, tracked by international aerospace databases

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 1240 was a Soviet military reconnaissance satellite belonging to the Yantar-2K class. Designed primarily for optical intelligence collection, it formed part of the larger Yantar program managed by TsNIIMash and constructed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

### Launch Details
The spacecraft was launched on **January 20, 1981**, at **11:00 UTC** from **Launch Site 31** at the **Baikonur Cosmodrome**. The launch utilized a **Soyuz-U** carrier rocket, a standardized version of the R-7 family that became one of the most frequently used launch vehicles in history.

### Technical Classification
- **Instance Of**: Yantar-2K satellite
- **COSPAR ID**: 1981-005A
- **SCN (Spacecraft Number)**: 12143
- **Alias**: Kosmos 1240

### Operational Context
As part of the Cosmos naming convention applied to many Soviet satellites—particularly those with military applications—it is likely that Cosmos 1240 remained classified throughout its operational life. The Yantar-2K class typically featured film-return capsules for returning photographic intelligence to Earth.

### International Tracking
The satellite has been catalogued internationally:
- Listed in Wolfram Language as `Entity["Satellite", "12143"]`
- Referenced across multiple language editions of Wikipedia including Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report