# Cosmos 1338
**Wikidata**: [Q13566557](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566557)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1338

## Summary
Cosmos 1338 was a Soviet Zenit 6U class reconnaissance satellite launched on February 16, 1982. It was part of a series of spy satellites operated by the Soviet Union for photographic surveillance.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** February 16, 1982
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U (rocket design variant)
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41
- **Launch Time:** 11:10:00 UTC
- **COSPAR ID:** 1982-011A
- **Alternative Name:** Kosmos 1338
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 13063
- **Class:** Zenit 6U (Soviet spy satellite)
- **Wikipedia Languages Available:** Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Cosmos 1338?
A: Cosmos 1338 was a Soviet spy satellite designed for reconnaissance and photographic surveillance, likely collecting imagery intelligence for military purposes.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1338 launched?
A: It was launched on February 16, 1982, at 11:10:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 using a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: What type of rocket carried Cosmos 1338 into orbit?
A: Cosmos 1338 was launched using a Soyuz-U, a variant of the Soyuz rocket family designed for universal use.

### Q: Is there another name for Cosmos 1338?
A: Yes, it is also known as Kosmos 1338.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1338 exemplifies the Soviet Union's extensive space-based reconnaissance program during the Cold War. As a Zenit 6U satellite, it contributed to the USSR's ability to monitor military and strategic targets globally using photographic technology. Part of the long-running Cosmos series (the first satellite launched with this name was in 1962), Cosmos 1338 represents a critical component in Soviet intelligence-gathering capabilities. Its deployment via the reliable Soyuz-U launcher from Plesetsk, a key northern cosmodrome, underscores the routine yet vital nature of these spy satellite missions in maintaining Soviet strategic awareness and parity during the early 1980s.

## Notable For
- Being launched specifically from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41, a major northern Soviet launch site.
- Utilizing the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, the standard Soviet rocket for crew and cargo launches at the time.
- Operating under the Cosmos designation, which was used for both military and civilian satellites to obscure missions.
- Being part of the Zenit 6U class, the workhorse Soviet photographic reconnaissance satellite design.
- Having its launch documented with the specific precision of the launch time (11:10:00 UTC).

## Body
### Launch Operation
*   Launched on February 16, 1982, at 11:10:00 UTC.
*   Lifted off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.
*   Deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle.
*   Assigned the designation Kosmos 1338 and the international COSPAR identifier 1982-011A.

### Satellite Classification
*   Classified as an instance of the Zenit 6U class.
*   Zenit 6U was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite specifically designed for photographic surveillance missions.
*   Identified in the satellite catalog as number 13063 (SCN).

### Technical Details
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1982-011A (International Designator).
*   **Wikipedia Representation:** Articles exist in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).
*   **Wolfram Reference:** Listed under Entity["Satellite", "13063"].
*   **Related Entities:** Strong association with Zenit 6U (its class) and Soyuz-U (its launch vehicle).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report