# Cosmos 243
**Wikidata**: [Q12753769](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753769)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-243

## Summary
Cosmos 243 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on September 23, 1968, as part of the Zenit 2M program. It was launched from Gagarin's Start using a Voskhod rocket. The mission represents a key component of Cold War-era reconnaissance technology developed by the Soviet Union.

## Key Facts
- Official designation: Cosmos 243
- Alternate name: Kosmos 243
- COSPAR ID: 1968-080A
- Launch date: September 23, 1968
- Launch time: 07:39:59 UTC
- Launch site: Gagarin's Start
- Launch vehicle: Voskhod
- Spacecraft class: Zenit 2M
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- SCN (Spacecraft Number): 03418

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 243?
A: Cosmos 243 was a Zenit 2M-class reconnaissance satellite used for intelligence gathering during the Cold War. It was designed to conduct photo surveillance missions from orbit.

### Q: When was Cosmos 243 launched?
A: Cosmos 243 was launched on September 23, 1968, at 07:39:59 UTC from the Gagarin's Start launch facility in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What kind of satellite was Cosmos 243?
A: Cosmos 243 belonged to the Zenit 2M class of Soviet military reconnaissance satellites. These were optical imaging satellites primarily used for espionage purposes.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 243 exemplifies the technological competition between superpowers during the Cold War era. As part of the Zenit 2M program, it contributed to the Soviet Union’s strategic intelligence capabilities through orbital reconnaissance. Its launch reflects the broader militarization of space and the use of satellite technology for national security purposes. Understanding missions like Cosmos 243 provides insight into how space-based assets became integral to global geopolitics and military strategy during the second half of the 20th century.

## Notable For
- Being part of the classified Zenit 2M spy satellite program operated by the Soviet Union
- Launching during a peak period of Cold War reconnaissance activity in 1968
- Utilizing the Voskhod launcher, which also served crewed spaceflight missions
- Assigned SCN identifier 03418, linking it to formal tracking systems
- Representing an evolution in Soviet optical reconnaissance satellite design

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 243 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched under the standardized "Kosmos" naming convention applied to many of the USSR's military and scientific satellites. It functioned within the framework of the Zenit 2M program, which focused on returning film canisters for high-resolution imagery analysis.

### Technical Classification
The spacecraft was categorized as a Zenit 2M type, indicating its role as a secondary generation imaging reconnaissance platform. This class of satellite improved upon earlier designs with enhanced resolution and more reliable recovery methods.

### Launch Details
- **Date**: September 23, 1968  
- **Time**: 07:39:59 UTC  
- **Site**: Gagarin's Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome)  
- **Vehicle**: Voskhod  

This launch occurred amid a busy year for Soviet space activities, including both civilian and military programs.

### Programmatic Context
As part of the Zenit program, Cosmos 243 followed several earlier launches in the series. The Zenit satellites played a critical role in collecting visual intelligence over adversarial territories, particularly the United States and NATO countries, throughout the height of the Cold War.

### Legacy and Tracking
Cosmos 243 is tracked under multiple international databases:
- SCN (Spacecraft Number): 03418
- COSPAR ID: 1968-080A
- Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "03418"]

Its data appears across various language editions of Wikipedia, including Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian, reflecting continued interest in Cold War-era space history.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report