# Cosmos 1368
**Wikidata**: [Q12907370](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907370)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1368

## Summary
Cosmos 1368 was a Soviet spy satellite launched in 1982 as part of the Zenit 6U reconnaissance program. It was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 and operated under the Kosmos designation.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** May 21, 1982  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1982-046A  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 13208  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U  
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31  
- **Class:** Zenit 6U (Soviet reconnaissance satellite)  
- **Alternative Name:** Kosmos 1368  
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch at 12:40 UTC on May 21, 1982  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1368?  
A: Cosmos 1368 was a Zenit 6U-class satellite, a Soviet reconnaissance spacecraft designed for military intelligence gathering.  

### Q: Where was Cosmos 1368 launched from?  
A: It was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a major Soviet spaceport located in Kazakhstan.  

### Q: What rocket carried Cosmos 1368 into orbit?  
A: It was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soyuz launch vehicle optimized for reliability.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1368 was part of the Zenit series, a key Soviet reconnaissance program during the Cold War. These satellites provided critical military intelligence, including photographic surveillance of strategic locations worldwide. The Zenit 6U variant improved upon earlier models with enhanced imaging capabilities, contributing to Soviet defense and geopolitical strategy. Its launch underscores the technological competition between the USSR and Western powers in space-based espionage.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Reconnaissance Role:** Designed for high-resolution imaging of Earth’s surface for intelligence purposes.  
- **Zenit 6U Class:** A specialized Soviet spy satellite variant with advanced capabilities.  
- **Cold War Significance:** Part of a broader effort to monitor NATO and other adversaries during heightened tensions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date:** May 21, 1982  
- **Time:** 12:40 UTC  
- **Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Designation:** Zenit 6U  
- **Catalog Number:** 13208  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1982-046A  

### Mission Context  
- **Purpose:** Military reconnaissance  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U (Universal variant)  
- **Operator:** Soviet Union  

### Related Entities  
- **Zenit 6U:** Class of Soviet spy satellites  
- **Soyuz-U:** Launch vehicle used for Zenit missions

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report