# Cosmos 492
**Wikidata**: [Q12907723](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907723)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-492

## Summary
Cosmos 492 was a Soviet satellite launched on June 9, 1972, under the Cosmos designation program. Classified as a Zenit-4M spacecraft, it was deployed into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It is identified internationally by the COSPAR ID 1972-040A.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 492 is an instance of the **Zenit-4M** satellite class.
*   **Launch Date:** The spacecraft was launched on **June 9, 1972**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a **Voskhod** rocket, a Russian launch vehicle associated with the Soviet Union.
*   **Launch Site:** The mission launched from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international satellite identifier is **1972-040A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is listed with the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **06049**.
*   **Significant Event:** The rocket launch occurred precisely at **06:59:59** on June 9, 1972.
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as **Kosmos 492**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 492?
A: Cosmos 492 was a satellite of the **Zenit-4M** class. It was part of the Soviet Cosmos series, a designation used for a wide variety of Soviet military and scientific satellites.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 492 launched?
A: Cosmos 492 was launched on **June 9, 1972**, at 06:59:59. It lifted off from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31** in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 492?
A: The satellite was launched using a **Voskhod** launch vehicle. This rocket is a Russian launch vehicle that was utilized during the Soviet era for various missions.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 492 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's intensive space activities during the Cold War, specifically within the infrastructure of the long-running Cosmos program. As a Zenit-4M satellite, it highlights the operational deployment of this specific class of spacecraft, which required the robust capabilities of the Voskhod launch vehicle. The mission underscores the heavy utilization of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically Site 31, a pivotal launch complex for Soviet and later Russian space efforts.

The detailed tracking of this object—evidenced by its precise COSPAR ID (1972-040A) and Satellite Catalog Number (06049)—demonstrates the rigorous cataloging standards maintained by international space agencies. By documenting specific mission parameters, such as the exact launch time down to the second, entries like Cosmos 492 provide essential data points for understanding the launch cadence and technological capabilities of the Soviet space program in the early 1970s.

## Notable For
*   **Zenit-4M Classification:** It is a specific instance of the Zenit-4M satellite model.
*   **Precise Launch Timing:** Records indicate a highly specific launch time of 06:59:59.
*   **Voskhod Deployment:** It utilized the Voskhod launch vehicle, a system with historical ties to both crewed and uncrewed Soviet spaceflights.
*   **Baikonur Site 31:** The mission utilized Site 31 at Baikonur, a key operational launch pad distinct from the more commonly cited Site 1.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 492 was a man-made object launched into orbit by the Soviet Union. As with many spacecraft designated under the Cosmos program, it was assigned a sequential designation number, 492, to obscure the specific nature or mission objectives of the satellite from public and international scrutiny at the time.

### Technical Specifications
The entity is structurally defined as an **instance_of** the **Zenit-4M** class. This classification links the satellite to a specific lineage of Soviet hardware designed for orbital operations. The satellite's unique identifier in the international space registry is **1972-040A**, while it bears the numerical identifier **06049** in satellite catalogs.

### Launch Operations
The launch event for Cosmos 492 was a precisely calculated operation.
*   **Date:** The mission initiated on June 9, 1972.
*   **Time:** The significant event (rocket launch) was recorded at 06:59:59.
*   **Location:** The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31** (designated as the "start point").
*   **Vehicle:** The delivery system was the **Voskhod** rocket.

### Related Entities
The database connections for Cosmos 492 highlight its association with key Soviet technologies:
*   **Zenit-4M:** The specific model/class of the satellite.
*   **Voskhod:** The launch vehicle used, noted in records as a Russian launch vehicle and a series of Soviet crewed spacecraft.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report