# Cosmos 512
**Wikidata**: [Q12753879](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753879)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-512

## Summary
Cosmos 512 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on July 28, 1972. Designated as part of the Zenit 2M class, it was deployed into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of Zenit 2M, a class of Soviet spy satellite.
- **Launch Date:** July 28, 1972.
- **Launch Time:** 10:19:00.
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Voskhod.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1972-059A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 06130.
- **Alternative Name:** Kosmos 512.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 512?
A: Cosmos 512 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class of spacecraft.

### Q: When was Cosmos 512 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on July 28, 1972, at 10:19:00 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 512?
A: It was launched using a Voskhod rocket, a Russian launch vehicle frequently used for Soviet space missions during that era.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 512 represents a specific mission within the broader Soviet "Cosmos" program, which served as a designation for a wide array of Soviet satellites, including military reconnaissance spacecraft. As a Zenit 2M satellite, it exemplifies the advancement of Soviet surveillance technology during the Cold War, utilizing the robust Voskhod launch vehicle to deploy intelligence-gathering assets into orbit. The mission highlights the operational tempo of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary site for military launches, and contributes to the extensive legacy of the Zenit satellite series in gathering strategic information.

## Notable For
- **Military Reconnaissance:** Identified specifically as a Soviet spy satellite (Zenit 2M).
- **Launch Infrastructure:** Utilized the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4, a significant launch complex for Soviet defense missions.
- **Precise Chronology:** The mission is recorded with a precise launch time of 10:19:00, reflecting the detailed tracking of Soviet space operations.
- **Nomenclature:** It is part of the "Cosmos" designation series, a naming convention used by the Soviet Union to obscure the military nature of reconnaissance flights.

## Body

### Mission Profile
Cosmos 512 was launched under the standard protocols of the Soviet space program for military reconnaissance. As an instance of the **Zenit 2M** class, its primary role was intelligence gathering. The spacecraft was assigned the COSPAR international designator **1972-059A**, indicating it was the primary object (usually the satellite itself) launched in that specific time window. The Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) assigned to this object is **06130**.

### Launch Operations
The mission began on **July 28, 1972**. The launch was executed from the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 43/4**. The launch window was met precisely at **10:19:00**. The vehicle used to propel the satellite was the **Voskhod** rocket. The Voskhod was a derivative of the R-7 missile family and was frequently employed for launching both crewed and uncrewed Soviet spacecraft, including the Zenit series of spy satellites.

### Classification and Aliases
The satellite is officially recognized as **Cosmos 512**, though the alias **Kosmos 512** is also recorded in international databases. Its classification as a **Zenit 2M** distinguishes it from earlier or different configurations of Soviet optical reconnaissance satellites.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report