# Cosmos 329
**Wikidata**: [Q12753806](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753806)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-329

## Summary
Cosmos 329 was a Soviet Zenit 2M spy satellite launched on April 3, 1970. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Voskhod launch vehicle. The satellite was part of the Soviet Union's Cosmos program, assigned the international designator 1970-023A and SATCAT number 04357.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 329 is an instance of the **Zenit 2M** class of Soviet spy satellites.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **April 3, 1970**.
*   **Launch Site:** It launched from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was delivered into orbit by a **Voskhod** launch vehicle.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is **1970-023A**.
*   **SATCAT Number:** The Satellite Catalog Number is **04357**.
*   **Launch Time:** The launch event took place at **08:30:00** UTC.
*   **Alternative Name:** The satellite is also known by the alias **Kosmos 329**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 329?
A: Cosmos 329 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class. It was designed for reconnaissance purposes.

### Q: When was Cosmos 329 launched?
A: Cosmos 329 was launched on April 3, 1970, at 08:30:00 UTC.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 329?
A: The satellite was launched using a Voskhod rocket, a Russian launch vehicle commonly used during the Soviet era.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 329 serves as a historical data point in the timeline of the Cold War space race and Soviet military reconnaissance. As a Zenit 2M satellite, it represents a specific generation of optical reconnaissance technology used by the Soviet Union to monitor geopolitical hotspots from orbit. The mission highlights the heavy reliance of the Soviet military on the Cosmos program to obscure the true nature of classified military payloads under a generic scientific label.

The launch also demonstrates the operational capabilities of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome during this era. Launched just nine years after Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, Cosmos 329 utilized the Voskhod launch vehicle—a derivation of the R-7 Semyorka rocket—which was a workhorse for Soviet space endeavors. By cataloging missions like Cosmos 329, historians and analysts can better understand the cadence and capability of Soviet space surveillance infrastructure during the early 1970s.

## Notable For
*   Being a specific example of the **Zenit 2M** class of surveillance satellites.
*   Launching from the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**, a key Soviet orbital launch facility.
*   Utilizing the **Voskhod** launch vehicle, which was also famous for launching crewed spacecraft.
*   Bearing the **Google Knowledge Graph ID** `/g/1219mscq` and Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "04357"]`, indicating its tracking in major databases.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 329 was identified by the Soviet Union under the universal Cosmos designation system. This system was frequently used to name military satellites to mask their true purpose. Specifically, Cosmos 329 was an instance of the **Zenit 2M**, a class of satellite explicitly described in records as a "Soviet spy satellite." The COSPAR international ID for this object is **1970-023A**, and it is tracked under SATCAT number **04357**.

### Launch Operations
The satellite's journey to orbit began at the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 43/4**. The launch occurred on **April 3, 1970**.

**Launch Technical Details:**
*   **Time:** 08:30:00 (UTC)
*   **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4
*   **Rocket:** Voskhod

The Voskhod launch vehicle used for this mission is a derivative of the R-7 family. While the Voskhod class is historically notable for being a series of Soviet crewed spacecraft (and launch vehicles), in this context, it served as the delivery system for an uncrewed reconnaissance payload.

### Related Entities
The mission is contextually linked to two primary hardware classes:
*   **Zenit 2M:** The specific class of the satellite payload, designed for intelligence gathering.
*   **Voskhod:** The launch vehicle and a series of crewed spacecraft, highlighting the dual-use nature of Soviet rocket technology during this period.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report