# Cosmos 1318
**Wikidata**: [Q13566546](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566546)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1318

## Summary  
Cosmos 1318 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 to conduct military surveillance missions.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: November 3, 1981 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1981-109A ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200386))  
- **Satellite Catalog Number**: 12936 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Class**: Yantar-2K, a Soviet military reconnaissance satellite ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Aliases**: Also known as Kosmos 1318  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1318?  
A: Cosmos 1318 was a military reconnaissance satellite designed for surveillance missions as part of the Soviet Yantar-2K program.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1318 launched?  
A: It was launched on November 3, 1981, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 using a Soyuz-U rocket.  

### Q: Is Cosmos 1318 still operational?  
A: No, it was part of a Cold War-era spy satellite program and is no longer active.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1318 was a critical asset in Soviet military intelligence during the Cold War, providing high-resolution imagery for strategic reconnaissance. Its deployment underscored the technological rivalry between the USSR and the West, particularly in space-based surveillance. The Yantar-2K series, including Cosmos 1318, represented advancements in satellite imaging capabilities, influencing later developments in military and civilian Earth observation technologies.  

## Notable For  
- Part of the Yantar-2K series, a key Soviet reconnaissance program.  
- Launched during heightened Cold War tensions in the early 1980s.  
- Utilized the Soyuz-U, a reliable and widely used Soviet launch vehicle.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: November 3, 1981  
- **Time**: 13:00 UTC ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Class**: Yantar-2K, a military spy satellite  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U  

### Mission Context  
- Conducted optical reconnaissance for Soviet military intelligence.  
- Contributed to the USSR's strategic surveillance efforts during the Cold War.  

### Legacy  
- Demonstrated Soviet advancements in satellite imaging technology.  
- Predecessor to modern reconnaissance satellites.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report