# Cosmos 787
**Wikidata**: [Q12907803](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907803)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-787

## Summary  
Cosmos 787 is a Soviet signals intelligence satellite launched in 1976 as part of the Tselina-OM class, designed to intercept and analyze electronic emissions. It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, marking a component of the USSR's Cold War-era surveillance capabilities.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: January 6, 1976, at 04:52:02 UTC.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1976-001A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 08530.  
- **Class**: Tselina-OM signals intelligence satellite.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket.  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.  
- **Mission Type**: Electronic signals reconnaissance for military intelligence.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Cosmos 787 launched?  
A: Cosmos 787 was launched on January 6, 1976, at 04:52:02 UTC.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 787?  
A: It was a signals intelligence satellite designed to intercept and analyze electronic emissions, supporting Soviet military surveillance efforts.  

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 787?  
A: The satellite was deployed via a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Soviet/Russian launch vehicle commonly used for small satellites.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 787 exemplifies the Soviet Union's investment in space-based signals intelligence during the Cold War. As part of the Tselina-OM class, it played a critical role in monitoring electronic activity to assess military threats, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions. Its launch underscored the strategic importance of satellite reconnaissance in maintaining national security, a practice that remains relevant today. The mission also highlights the reliability of the Kosmos-3M rocket, which was pivotal in launching numerous Soviet and later Russian satellites.  

## Notable For  
- **Tselina-OM Class Membership**: Part of a specialized series of satellites focused on electronic signals interception.  
- **Kosmos-3M Rocket Deployment**: Utilized a cost-effective and widely used Soviet launch vehicle.  
- **Cold War Surveillance Role**: Contributed to the USSR's intelligence-gathering infrastructure during a period of heightened global tensions.  
- **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Launch**: Originated from a key Soviet spaceport, emphasizing the site's military significance.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: January 6, 1976, at 04:52:02 UTC.  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a facility primarily used for military and scientific launches.  
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M (a derivative of the R-14 Chusovaya missile), known for its reliability in low-Earth orbit deployments.  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Tselina-OM, a second-generation signals intelligence satellite designed to improve upon earlier Tselina models.  
- **Identifiers**:  
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1976-001A.  
  - **SCN**: 08530.  

### Mission Context  
- **Objective**: To detect, record, and transmit electronic signals for analysis by Soviet intelligence agencies.  
- **Historical Significance**: Operated during a period of intense Cold War rivalry, underscoring the USSR's efforts to achieve technological parity with Western nations.  
- **Legacy**: Part of a broader network of satellites that laid the groundwork for modern electronic reconnaissance systems.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report