# Cosmos 728
**Wikidata**: [Q12753972](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753972)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-728

## Summary
Cosmos 728 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on April 18, 1975. Designated as a Zenit 2M class spacecraft, it was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 using a Voskhod launch vehicle. It is also known by the alias Kosmos 728.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 728 is an instance of the Zenit 2M class, a type of Soviet spy satellite.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on April 18, 1975.
- **Launch Time:** The launch took place at 10:00:00.
- **Launch Site:** It launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The launch vehicle used was a Voskhod.
- **COSPAR ID:** The international designator for this entity is 1975-031A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The SCN value is 07745.
- **Aliases:** The satellite is also referred to as Kosmos 728.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 728?
A: Cosmos 728 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class.

### Q: When was Cosmos 728 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on April 18, 1975, at 10:00:00.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 728?
A: A Voskhod rocket was used to launch Cosmos 728 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 728 represents a specific mission within the Soviet Union's extensive "Cosmos" program, which served as a blanket designation for a wide variety of scientific and military satellites. As a Zenit 2M spacecraft, this entity highlights the technological progression of Soviet optical reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War. The mission demonstrates the operational reliance on the Voskhod launch vehicle—a derivation of the R-7 rocket family—for deploying both crewed and uncrewed military payloads.

Launching from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 41, the satellite played a role in the routine intelligence-gathering operations conducted by the Soviet Union in the mid-1970s. By cataloging this specific launch with identifiers such as COSPAR ID 1975-031A and SCN 07745, space historians and analysts can track the density and frequency of military space traffic during this era. The existence of distinct aliases (Kosmos 728) and references across different language Wikipedias (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian) also illustrates the entity's recognition in global space documentation.

## Notable For
- Being a designated **Zenit 2M** Soviet spy satellite.
- Launching via the **Voskhod** rocket system.
- Deployment from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41**.
- Inclusion in the **Cosmos** program with the specific COSPAR ID **1975-031A**.

## Body

### Classification and Identification
Cosmos 728 is formally classified as an instance of the **Zenit 2M**, a class of Soviet spy satellite. In international catalogs, it is identified by the **COSPAR ID 1975-031A** and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **07745**. The entity is referred to interchangeably as **Kosmos 728**. In computational knowledge bases, it is represented by the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "07745"]`.

### Launch Details
The significant event for this entity was a **rocket launch** that occurred on **April 18, 1975**. The launch sequence is detailed as follows:
- **Launch Vehicle:** Voskhod
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41
- **Time:** 10:00:00

### Program Context
The launch vehicle used, the **Voskhod**, is noted as a Russian launch vehicle and a series of Soviet crewed spacecraft originally developed in the Soviet Union. The Cosmos program utilized such reliable launch systems to deploy reconnaissance satellites like the Zenit 2M into orbit.

### Data References
Structured data regarding Cosmos 728 is maintained across various references, including Wikidata and academic sources (indicated by reference ID `Q6272367`). The satellite has sitelinks in three Wikipedia language editions: Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr), with a combined sitelink count of 3 (note: specific counts for related classes like Voskhod are higher, but the entity page count is 3).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report