# Cosmos 515
**Wikidata**: [Q12753881](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753881)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-515

## Summary
Cosmos 515 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1972 as part of the Zenit-4MK class, designed for photo surveillance. It was deployed via a Voskhod rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, contributing to the Soviet Union's Cold War-era intelligence-gathering efforts. The satellite operated under the COSPAR ID 1972-063A and was identified as SCN 06150.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 18, 1972, at 10:00:01 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Voskhod rocket (Soviet launch vehicle).
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1972-063A.
- **SCN**: 06150.
- **Class**: Zenit-4MK (Soviet reconnaissance satellite).
- **Mission Type**: Photo surveillance for military intelligence.
- **Country of Origin**: Soviet Union.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Cosmos 515 launched?
A: Cosmos 515 was launched on August 18, 1972, at 10:00:01 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 515?
A: It was a Zenit-4MK reconnaissance satellite designed to conduct photographic surveillance for Soviet military intelligence during the Cold War.

### Q: What rocket launched Cosmos 515?
A: The satellite was deployed using a Voskhod launch vehicle, a Soviet rocket derived from the R-7 family.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 515 represents a key component of the Soviet Union’s Cold War reconnaissance program. As part of the Zenit-4MK series, it exemplified the technological advancements and strategic priorities of the era, providing critical photographic intelligence to support military and geopolitical objectives. Its launch on a Voskhod rocket highlighted the adaptability of Soviet space infrastructure, repurposing crewed spacecraft launchers for uncrewed missions. This satellite, though one of many in its class, underscores the scale and secrecy of Soviet space-based surveillance efforts, which played a significant role in the broader context of superpower rivalry.

## Notable For
- **Reconnaissance Role**: Part of the Zenit-4MK class, optimized for high-resolution photo surveillance.
- **Voskhod Launch Vehicle**: Utilized a rocket originally designed for crewed missions, showcasing Soviet engineering flexibility.
- **Plesetsk Launch Site**: Deployed from a strategic Arctic cosmodrome, emphasizing the Soviet focus on secure, domestic launch capabilities.
- **Cold War Context**: Contributed to intelligence-gathering operations during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: August 18, 1972, at 10:00:01 UTC.
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4, a facility primarily used for military and reconnaissance launches.
- **Rocket**: Voskhod (R-7 derivative), serial number unknown.

### Satellite Specifications
- **Class**: Zenit-4MK, a fourth-generation reconnaissance satellite with improved optics and film return systems.
- **Mission Duration**: Typical Zenit-4MK missions lasted approximately 14 days, after which film capsules were recovered mid-air.
- **Orbit**: Low Earth Orbit (exact parameters not specified in sources).

### Mission Context
- **Purpose**: To photograph strategic targets for Soviet military and political intelligence.
- **Historical Significance**: Part of a prolific satellite program; over 500 Zenit satellites were launched between 1961 and 1996.
- **Secrecy**: Like most Soviet reconnaissance missions, details about Cosmos 515’s operations were not publicly disclosed at the time.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report