# Cosmos 288
**Wikidata**: [Q12753791](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753791)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-288

## Summary
Cosmos 288 (also known as Kosmos 288) was a Soviet satellite launched on June 27, 1969. It was a Zenit-4 class spacecraft, a type used for reconnaissance, launched via a Voskhod rocket from the Gagarin's Start launch site. It is identified by the international designator 1969-055A and Satellite Catalog Number 03994.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 288 is an instance of the **Zenit-4** class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **June 27, 1969**.
*   **Launch Site:** It lifted off from **Gagarin's Start** (Site 1/5) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
*   **Launch Time:** The launch event occurred at **06:59:59** UTC.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was delivered into orbit by a **Voskhod** launch vehicle.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is **1969-055A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the number **03994**.
*   **Also Known As:** The satellite is aliased as **Kosmos 288**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 288?
A: Cosmos 288 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite specifically belonging to the Zenit-4 class. These spacecraft were designed for earth observation and intelligence gathering.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 288 launched?
A: It was launched on June 27, 1969, at 06:59:59 UTC. The mission utilized a Voskhod rocket launched from the Gagarin's Start facility.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for Cosmos 288?
A: The COSPAR international designator for this satellite is 1969-055A, and it holds the Satellite Catalog Number 03994.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 288 represents a specific data point in the history of the Soviet space program, specifically regarding military reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War. As a Zenit-4 satellite, it was part of a crucial fleet of optical reconnaissance spacecraft used by the Soviet Union to monitor strategic locations from orbit. The mission demonstrates the heavy utilization of the Zenit-4 platform, which was a staple of Soviet intelligence efforts throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Furthermore, the mission highlights the operational reliability and frequency of the Voskhod launch vehicle and the iconic Gagarin's Start launch pad. Launching just weeks before the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, Cosmos 288 serves as a marker of the concurrent, yet distinct, space priorities of the superpowers—where the US focused on lunar exploration while the USSR maintained a rigorous schedule of Earth-orbital reconnaissance. For researchers and historians, the specific identifiers (SCN 03994 and COSPAR 1969-055A) provide essential linkage to tracking data and historical logs.

## Notable For
*   **Reconnaissance Role:** Being a confirmed unit of the **Zenit-4** class of satellites, utilized specifically for Soviet military reconnaissance.
*   **Historic Launch Site:** Launching from **Gagarin's Start**, the same pad used for the first human spaceflight.
*   **Precise Tracking Data:** Having a distinct Wolfram Language entity code (`Entity["Satellite", "03994"]`), indicating its inclusion in computational databases.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Using the **Voskhod** rocket, a vehicle derived from the R-7 Semyorka, which was pivotal in early Soviet crewed and uncrewed missions.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 288 was a space mission officially designated under the Soviet Union's "Cosmos" program. This program served as a cover for a wide variety of military and scientific satellites. According to structured property data, Cosmos 288 was an **instance of** the **Zenit-4**, a class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites. These satellites were typically used for photoreconnaissance, capturing high-resolution images of the Earth's surface for intelligence purposes.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on **June 27, 1969**. The specific time of the rocket launch event was recorded at **06:59:59**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The mission was propelled by a **Voskhod** launch vehicle. The Voskhod rocket was a derivative of the R-7 family and was notably used for both crewed missions (Voskhod spacecraft) and satellite deployment.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Gagarin's Start**. This is the famous Site 1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, named after Yuri Gagarin, who launched from there in 1961.

### Identifiers and Data
To differentiate this specific satellite from others in the extensive Cosmos series, several unique identifiers are assigned to Cosmos 288:
*   **COSPAR ID:** **1969-055A**. This international designation indicates it was the 55th launch of the year 1969 (and the primary object of that launch).
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** **03994**. This is the unique identifier assigned by the US Space Command (or equivalent tracking bodies).
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also referred to as **Kosmos 288**.
*   **Computational Data:** The entity is recognized in the Wolfram Language dataset as `Entity["Satellite", "03994"]`.

### Related Entities
The satellite belongs to the broader lineage of Soviet space technology, sharing classification with:
*   **Zenit-4** (Class of spacecraft)
*   **Voskhod** (Launch vehicle class and crewed spacecraft series)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report