# Cosmos 1268
**Wikidata**: [Q13566521](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566521)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1268

## Summary
Cosmos 1268 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on April 28, 1981. Classified as a Zenit 6U spacecraft, it was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It is identified internationally by the designator 1981-040A.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 1268 is an instance of the **Zenit 6U** class of Soviet spy satellites.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **April 28, 1981**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a **Soyuz-U** rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz design.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international satellite designator is **1981-040A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under number **12423**.
*   **Launch Event:** The specific launch event occurred at **09:00:00** on April 28, 1981.
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as **Kosmos 1268**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1268?
A: Cosmos 1268 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 6U class. It was part of the Soviet Union's Cosmos program, which encompassed a wide range of military and scientific satellites.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1268 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on April 28, 1981, at 09:00:00. It lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1268?
A: Cosmos 1268 was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket. This vehicle was a "Universal" variant of the Soyuz rocket design, widely used for various Soviet space missions.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1268 serves as a specific historical data point within the extensive timeline of the Soviet Union's space-based reconnaissance efforts. Launched in 1981, it represents the operational continuity of the Zenit program, a crucial component of Soviet intelligence gathering during the Cold War.

The entry highlights the reliance on proven technology, specifically the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, which acted as the workhorse for numerous Soviet missions. By utilizing the Zenit 6U platform—explicitly identified in records as a spy satellite—this mission contributed to the systematic surveillance capabilities maintained by the Soviet military. The detailed tracking of such entities, down to the precise launch time and site (Baikonur Site 31), allows researchers to map the frequency and scale of space reconnaissance activities conducted during this era.

## Notable For
*   **Specific Classification:** It is a confirmed unit of the **Zenit 6U** class, distinctly categorized as a spy satellite.
*   **Precise Launch Timing:** Historical records preserve the exact launch time as **09:00:00**, providing precise chronological data.
*   **Launch Infrastructure:** The mission utilized **Site 31** at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a specific launch complex often used for Soyuz missions.
*   **Nomenclature:** It operates under the "Kosmos" designation, a standard Soviet practice used to obfuscate the military nature of reconnaissance flights.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 1268 was a man-made object sent into orbit under the Soviet Cosmos program. Structurally and functionally, the entity is defined as an **instance of Zenit 6U**. This classification identifies it unequivocally as a **Soviet spy satellite**. The mission followed the standard Soviet protocol of numbering military satellites sequentially under the "Cosmos" umbrella to mask their specific reconnaissance objectives.

### Launch Details
The satellite successfully achieved orbit on **April 28, 1981**. The launch event was executed with high precision at **09:00:00**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The mission employed the **Soyuz-U** rocket. The "U" stands for "Universal," indicating this was a generalized, reliable variant of the Soyuz launcher family used for both crewed and uncrewed missions.
*   **Launch Location:** The launch took place at **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**. This site is a primary launch pad located at the major spaceport in the Soviet Union (now Kazakhstan).

### Identifiers and Tracking
To facilitate international tracking and cataloging, Cosmos 1268 was assigned specific identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** **1981-040A**. This international designation indicates it was the primary object (denoted by "A") of the 40th successful launch of 1981.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** **12423**. This unique number is used by organizations such as NORAD and the USSPACECOM to track the object in orbit.
*   **Wolfram Language Entity:** It is cataloged in computational databases as `Entity["Satellite", "12423"]`.

The entity is referenced across multiple Wikipedia languages, including Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr), indicating its documentation in regional historical records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report