# Cosmos 1248
**Wikidata**: [Q12753181](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753181)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1248

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Cosmos 1248**:

---

## Summary  
Cosmos 1248 was a Soviet spy satellite launched in 1981 as part of the Yantar-2K reconnaissance program. It was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and operated under the Kosmos designation for military missions.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: March 5, 1981 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1981-020A ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200386))  
- **Satellite Catalog Number**: 12317 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Class**: Yantar-2K (Soviet reconnaissance satellite) ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 1248  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch at 15:00 UTC on March 5, 1981 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  

## FAQs  
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1248?  
A: Cosmos 1248 was a Yantar-2K-class Soviet reconnaissance satellite, designed for military intelligence missions.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1248 launched?  
A: It was launched on March 5, 1981, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1248?  
A: As part of the Yantar-2K program, its primary role was high-resolution optical imaging for Soviet military surveillance.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1248 was part of the Soviet Union's Cold War-era efforts to maintain strategic surveillance capabilities. The Yantar-2K series provided critical imagery intelligence, supporting military and geopolitical decision-making. Its deployment underscored the technological competition between superpowers, particularly in space-based reconnaissance. While not publicly detailed, missions like Cosmos 1248 contributed to advancements in satellite imaging and orbital operations, influencing later surveillance technologies.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Role**: Operated as a classified reconnaissance satellite under the Kosmos designation.  
- **Launch Precision**: Deployed via the reliable Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse of Soviet space missions.  
- **Cold War Context**: Represented Soviet efforts to counter U.S. spy satellite capabilities during heightened tensions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: March 5, 1981  
- **Time**: 15:00 UTC  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Class**: Yantar-2K (derived from the Soviet Yantar reconnaissance program)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U, a variant of the Soyuz rocket family ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  

### Operational Context  
- **Mission**: Military reconnaissance, likely involving high-resolution film-return imaging.  
- **Designation**: Part of the Kosmos series, masking its true purpose under civilian satellite naming conventions.  

### Legacy  
- **Wolfram Language Entity**: Cataloged as `Entity["Satellite", "12317"]`.  
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Listed in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr) editions.  

--- 

This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report