# Cosmos 495
**Wikidata**: [Q12753874](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753874)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-495

## Summary
Cosmos 495 was a Soviet satellite launched on June 23, 1972. Designated as a Zenit-4M spacecraft, it was sent into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. It is identified by the international COSPAR ID 1972-044A.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 495 is an instance of the Zenit-4M satellite class.
- **Launch Date:** The spacecraft was launched on June 23, 1972.
- **Launch Time:** The specific launch event occurred at 11:19:57 UTC.
- **Launch Site:** It launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The launch was facilitated by a Voskhod rocket (Russian launch vehicle).
- **COSPAR ID:** The international designation for this entity is 1972-044A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command (SCN) number is 06060.
- **Aliases:** It is also known as Kosmos 495.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of spacecraft was Cosmos 495?
A: Cosmos 495 was a Zenit-4M type satellite. This classification is derived from structured military and space data records.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 495 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 23, 1972, at 11:19:57 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 495?
A: Cosmos 495 was launched using a Voskhod launch vehicle, a Russian rocket utilized during the Soviet era.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 495 represents a specific data point in the history of the Soviet space program, specifically regarding the operational deployment of the Zenit-4M series. Launched in the early 1970s, it illustrates the high cadence of launches associated with the Kosmos program, which served as a blanket designation for a wide variety of Soviet military and scientific satellites. The mission highlights the utilization of the Voskhod launch vehicle—originally derived from the R-7 Semyorka intercontinental ballistic missile—to deliver payloads from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary launch site for military reconnaissance satellites. By cataloging specific details such as the precise launch time (11:19:57) and site (Site 43), this entry contributes to the precise historical tracking of mid-Cold War space assets.

## Notable For
- Being a documented member of the **Zenit-4M** class of satellites.
- Launching from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43**, a significant location for Soviet orbital launches.
- Utilizing the **Voskhod** launch vehicle, distinguishing it from other launch systems like Soyuz or Kosmos-3M used for similar missions.
- Precise launch timing recorded to the second (**11:19:57**).

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 495 was launched under the Soviet Kosmos program, a designation used to obscure the specific military or scientific nature of Soviet satellites. The mission involved placing a Zenit-4M spacecraft into orbit.

### Launch Specifications
The launch took place on **June 23, 1972**. The departure point was the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43**, a major spaceport located in northwestern Russia. The launch vehicle responsible for inserting Cosmos 495 into orbit was the **Voskhod** rocket, a derivative of the earlier Vostok launcher.

### Identifiers and Classification
The spacecraft carries the COSPAR international designator **1972-044A**, indicating it was the primary payload (A) of the 44th successful launch of 1972. In US military tracking catalogs, it is listed under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **06060**. The spacecraft is formally classified as an **instance of Zenit-4M**.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report