# Cosmos 599
**Wikidata**: [Q12753916](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753916)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-599

## Summary
Cosmos 599 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1973 as part of the Zenit 2M spy satellite program. It was deployed using a Voskhod rocket from Gagarin's Start, a historic launch site. The satellite played a role in the Soviet Union's space-based intelligence-gathering efforts during the Cold War.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 15, 1973, at 08:45:00 UTC.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1973-073A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 06867.
- **Spacecraft Class**: Zenit 2M, a Soviet spy satellite design.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Voskhod, a Soviet rocket derived from the R-7 family.
- **Launch Site**: Gagarin's Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 1).
- **Mission Type**: Photoreconnaissance for military or intelligence purposes.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 599?
A: Cosmos 599 was a Soviet spy satellite designed for photoreconnaissance, gathering imagery for military or strategic intelligence during the Cold War.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 599 launched?
A: It launched on October 15, 1973, at 08:45:00 UTC from Gagarin's Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 1) aboard a Voskhod rocket.

### Q: What class of satellite was Cosmos 599?
A: It belonged to the Zenit 2M class, a series of Soviet reconnaissance satellites used for Earth observation and intelligence missions.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 599 represents a typical mission within the Soviet Union's extensive Zenit spy satellite program, which was critical for Cold War-era intelligence gathering. As part of the Zenit 2M series, it utilized film-based photography, requiring capsules to be returned to Earth for development. This mission underscores the Soviet emphasis on space-based reconnaissance to monitor adversaries and secure strategic advantages. While individual Zenit missions like Cosmos 599 were not unique, their cumulative operations provided consistent intelligence support to Soviet military and political decision-making.

## Notable For
- **Zenit 2M Class Membership**: Part of a prolific series of Soviet reconnaissance satellites known for film-return capsules.
- **Voskhod Rocket Deployment**: Utilized a launch vehicle derived from the R-7 rocket family, which also supported crewed Voskhod spacecraft missions.
- **Gagarin's Start Launch Site**: Launched from the historic pad used for Yuri Gagarin's 1961 Vostok 1 mission, symbolizing continuity in Soviet space efforts.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: October 15, 1973, at 08:45:00 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Voskhod (a modified R-7 rocket).
- **Launch Site**: Gagarin's Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 1), the same pad used for the first human spaceflight.

### Spacecraft Class
- **Zenit 2M**: A second-generation Zenit spy satellite designed for high-resolution photoreconnaissance. These satellites used film capsules ejected mid-mission and recovered via parachute for processing.
- **Mission Duration**: Typical Zenit 2M missions lasted approximately 14 days, after which the satellite deorbited and returned its film.

### Mission Context
- **Reconnaissance Role**: Cosmos 599 supported Soviet military intelligence by capturing imagery of strategic sites, infrastructure, or troop movements.
- **Series Significance**: The Zenit program conducted over 500 launches between 1961 and 1996, making it one of the most prolific satellite systems of the Cold War. Cosmos 599 was one of 3 documented satellites in its specific subclass with sitelinks.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report