# Cosmos 1329
**Wikidata**: [Q12753221](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753221)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1329

## Summary
Cosmos 1329 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on December 4, 1981. Identified by the COSPAR designation 1981-118A, it was a specific instance of the Zenit 6U class of spacecraft. The satellite was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 1329 is an instance of the Zenit 6U class, a type of Soviet spy satellite.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite launched on December 4, 1981.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was carried into space by a Soyuz-U rocket.
- **Launch Site:** The launch took place at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
- **Launch Time:** The significant event (rocket launch) occurred at 09:50:00.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designator is 1981-118A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It holds the SCN value of 12989.
- **Aliases:** It is also known as Kosmos 1329.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1329?
A: Cosmos 1329 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 6U class.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1329 launched?
A: It was launched on December 4, 1981, at 09:50:00 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 1329?
A: The satellite was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1329 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's extensive reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War. As a Zenit 6U satellite, it highlights the standardization of Soviet military space technology, utilizing reliable and proven platforms for intelligence gathering. The mission demonstrates the operational cadence of the Soviet space program, leveraging the versatile Soyuz-U launch vehicle—described as a "Universal" variant—to maintain a persistent presence in orbit. Launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, Cosmos 1329 contributed to the vast network of Kosmos-designated satellites that obscured the true nature of military missions under a generic scientific naming convention.

## Notable For
- Being a designated **Zenit 6U** class satellite, explicitly categorized as a **Soviet spy satellite**.
- Launching aboard the **Soyuz-U**, a universal variant of the historic Soyuz rocket family.
- Utilizing **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**, a major launch facility distinct from the more famous Site 1.
- Being tracked under the specific **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 12989**.

## Body

### Identity and Designation
Cosmos 1329, alternatively spelled "Kosmos 1329," is identified in orbital records by the COSPAR ID 1981-118A and the Satellite Catalog Number 12989. In the Wolfram Language, it is encoded as `Entity["Satellite", "12989"]`. The satellite is an instance of the Zenit 6U class.

### Mission Profile
The primary mission of Cosmos 1329 was photographic reconnaissance, as indicated by its classification as a spy satellite.
- **Launch Event:** The satellite was successfully launched on December 4, 1981.
- **Launch Timing:** The precise time of the rocket launch was recorded as 09:50:00.
- **Location:** The mission originated from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Launch Vehicle
The launch vehicle used was the Soyuz-U. This variant is noted as the "Universal" version of the Soyuz rocket design. The Soyuz-U was a core component of the Soviet space fleet, used frequently for both crewed and uncrewed missions.

### Program Context
Cosmos 1329 was part of the larger Kosmos program, a Soviet initiative that assigned "Kosmos" designations to a wide variety of satellites to obfuscate their specific military or intelligence functions. The use of the Zenit 6U platform places this mission within the lineage of advanced optical reconnaissance satellites operated by the Soviet Union during the early 1980s.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report