# Cosmos 1421
**Wikidata**: [Q13566596](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566596)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1421

## Summary
Cosmos 1421 was a Soviet satellite launched on November 18, 1982, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Identified by the international designator 1982-112A and catalog number 13661, it is classified as a Zenit 6U spacecraft, a type associated with Soviet reconnaissance operations. The mission was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket from Site 31.

## Key Facts
- **Official Designation:** Cosmos 1421 (alias: Kosmos 1421)
- **International Designator:** 1982-112A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 13661
- **Classification:** Instance of Zenit 6U (Soviet spy satellite)
- **Launch Date:** November 18, 1982
- **Launch Time:** 09:25:00
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U
- **Mission Type:** Reconnaissance (spy satellite)
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "13661"]

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1421?
A: Cosmos 1421 was a Zenit 6U satellite, which is a class of Soviet spy satellite used for reconnaissance purposes.

### Q: When was Cosmos 1421 launched?
A: Cosmos 1421 was launched on November 18, 1982, at 09:25:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1421?
A: The satellite was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design, from the Soviet Union.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for Cosmos 1421?
A: The COSPAR International Designator for Cosmos 1421 is 1982-112A, and its Satellite Catalog Number is 13661.

### Q: Where can I find more information about Cosmos 1421?
A: Basic information is available on Wikipedia in multiple languages including Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr). It is also cataloged in the Wolfram Language database.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1421 represents a typical mission within the Soviet Union's extensive and secretive space reconnaissance program during the Cold War era. The "Cosmos" designation was a standard Soviet practice used to obscure the true military nature of reconnaissance satellites; international observers relied on technical data like launch trajectories, orbital parameters, and hardware identification to discern the actual purpose of these missions. In this case, the classification of Cosmos 1421 as a Zenit 6U platform connects it directly to the Soviet Union's operational spy satellite capabilities. Launched in 1982, it provides a historical data point for understanding the tempo, technology, and operational patterns of Soviet military space assets at a time of heightened global tensions. The use of the reliable Soyuz-U rocket and the established Baikonur facility further illustrates the standardized infrastructure supporting these intelligence-gathering efforts.

## Notable For
- **Military Reconnaissance:** Identified as a Zenit 6U, a class explicitly linked to Soviet espionage and intelligence gathering.
- **Standardized Secrecy:** Exemplifies the Soviet "Cosmos" naming convention used to classify military satellites without revealing specific mission details.
- **Soyuz-U Deployment:** Utilized the Soyuz-U, one of the most frequently launched and reliable rockets in the Soviet space fleet.
- **Precise Tracking:** Features a complete record of launch coordinates, times, and international identifiers (1982-112A, SCN 13661), enabling accurate historical tracking.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 1421 was launched on November 18, 1982, at 09:25:00 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31. Structurally, it is identified as an instance of the Zenit 6U class, a variant of the Zenit spy satellite family used by the Soviet Union for photoreconnaissance. The "6U" designation refers to the specific configuration of the satellite bus and its mission capabilities.

### Launch Details
The mission was deployed using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket family developed in the Soviet Union. The launch originated from Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a major spaceport used for both crewed and uncrewed missions.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The satellite is tracked internationally under the COSPAR ID 1982-112A and holds the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 13661. These unique identifiers allow astronomers, military analysts, and historians to distinguish this specific object from the thousands of others in Earth orbit. It is also represented in the Wolfram Language computational system as `Entity["Satellite", "13661"]`.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
The satellite is referred to as both "Cosmos 1421" and "Kosmos 1421," reflecting different transliterations from the Russian Cyrillic script. Information about the satellite is available in several regional language editions of Wikipedia, including Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian, reflecting regional interest in Soviet space history.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report