# Cosmos 1396
**Wikidata**: [Q12907380](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907380)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1396

## Summary
Cosmos 1396 was a Soviet spy satellite launched in 1982 as part of the Zenit 6U program. It was designed for reconnaissance missions and launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** July 27, 1982  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1982-075A  
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 13391  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U  
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16  
- **Class:** Zenit 6U (Soviet reconnaissance satellite)  
- **Alternative Name:** Kosmos 1396  
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch at 12:30 UTC on July 27, 1982  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1396?  
A: Cosmos 1396 was a Zenit 6U-class Soviet reconnaissance satellite, primarily used for military spy missions.  

### Q: Where was Cosmos 1396 launched from?  
A: It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16, a major Soviet/Russian spaceport.  

### Q: What rocket carried Cosmos 1396 into orbit?  
A: It was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soyuz launch vehicle.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1396 was part of the Soviet Union's extensive Cold War-era reconnaissance satellite program, providing critical intelligence during heightened geopolitical tensions. As a Zenit-class satellite, it contributed to the USSR's ability to monitor military and strategic developments globally. The Zenit series was instrumental in advancing Soviet space-based surveillance capabilities, influencing later satellite designs. Its launch also demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-U rocket, which remains in use today.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Reconnaissance:** Designed specifically for spy missions during the Cold War.  
- **Zenit 6U Class:** Part of a widely used Soviet satellite series optimized for photographic intelligence.  
- **Soyuz-U Launch:** Highlighted the versatility of the Soyuz-U rocket, which became one of history's most-launched rockets.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date:** July 27, 1982  
- **Time:** 12:30 UTC  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class:** Zenit 6U  
- **Catalog Number:** 13391  
- **COSPAR Designation:** 1982-075A  

### Mission Context  
- **Purpose:** Military reconnaissance  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U  
- **Country of Origin:** Soviet Union

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report