# Cosmos 650
**Wikidata**: [Q12753938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753938)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-650

## Summary
Cosmos 650 was a Soviet military satellite launched on April 29, 1974, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket. It was part of the Kosmos series of satellites and carried the international designation 1974-028A. The satellite is cataloged as object 07281 in space tracking databases.

## Key Facts
- Launched on April 29, 1974, at 17:10:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132
- Launched using a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Soviet/Russian launch vehicle
- International designation: 1974-028A (COSPAR ID)
- Catalog number: 07281 (NORAD/SSN)
- Part of the Kosmos series of Soviet and Russian military satellites
- Available in Wikipedia languages: Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "07281"]

### Q: What was Cosmos 650?
A: Cosmos 650 was a Soviet military satellite launched in 1974 as part of the Kosmos series. It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket and carried the international designation 1974-028A.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 650 launched?
A: Cosmos 650 was launched on April 29, 1974, at 17:10:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 650?
A: Cosmos 650 was a military satellite, part of the extensive Kosmos series of Soviet and Russian reconnaissance and military satellites.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 650 represents a significant component of the Soviet Union's military space program during the Cold War era. As part of the Kosmos series, it contributed to the USSR's strategic reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities, providing critical intelligence and monitoring functions. The satellite's launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome demonstrates the Soviet Union's development of dedicated military space launch facilities, while its use of the Kosmos-3M rocket reflects the maturation of Soviet space launch technology. Though specific mission details remain classified, satellites like Cosmos 650 played a crucial role in maintaining the strategic balance during a period of intense technological competition between superpowers.

## Notable For
- Military reconnaissance satellite in the extensive Kosmos series
- Launched from the dedicated Plesetsk Cosmodrome military spaceport
- Used the reliable Kosmos-3M rocket, a workhorse of Soviet/Russian space launches
- Part of the 1974 Soviet space launch manifest, demonstrating sustained space program operations
- Cataloged internationally with designation 1974-028A, showing transparency in space tracking

## Body
### Launch Details
Cosmos 650 was launched on April 29, 1974, at exactly 17:10:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132. This launch site, located in northern Russia, was specifically developed for military satellite launches and remains active today. The launch vehicle was a Kosmos-3M, a liquid-fueled rocket that was widely used for both military and civilian satellite launches throughout the Soviet and post-Soviet periods.

### Technical Classification
The satellite is cataloged as object 07281 in space tracking databases and carries the COSPAR designation 1974-028A. These designations are used internationally to track and identify artificial objects in Earth orbit. The satellite is classified as part of the Kosmos series, which encompasses a wide range of Soviet and Russian military satellites, including reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, and experimental platforms.

### Program Context
Cosmos 650 was launched during the height of the Cold War, when both the United States and Soviet Union were rapidly expanding their military space capabilities. The Kosmos series represented one of the largest and most diverse satellite programs in history, with hundreds of satellites launched over several decades. While specific mission details for individual Kosmos satellites like 650 are typically classified, the series as a whole provided the Soviet military with crucial space-based reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report