# Cosmos 79
**Wikidata**: [Q950737](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q950737)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-79

## Summary
Cosmos 79 (also known as Kosmos 79) was a Soviet Zenit-4 reconnaissance satellite launched on August 25, 1965. It was deployed into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Gagarin's Start launch site.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 79 is an instance of the Zenit-4 class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites.
- **Launch Date:** The mission launched on August 25, 1965.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a Voskhod rocket.
- **Launch Site:** The satellite lifted off from Gagarin's Start.
- **Launch Time:** The precise launch event occurred at 10:10:02.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1965-069A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command number is 01523.
- **Aliases:** The entity is also referred to as Kosmos 79.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 79?
A: Cosmos 79 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite belonging to the Zenit-4 class.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 79 launched?
A: It was launched on August 25, 1965, at 10:10:02 from the Gagarin's Start launch complex.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 79?
A: The satellite was launched using a Voskhod launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 79 serves as a specific historical data point within the broader context of the Cold War-era Space Race and Soviet military surveillance. As a Zenit-4 satellite, it represents the technological progression of Soviet optical reconnaissance capabilities designed to gather intelligence from orbit. The mission highlights the operational reliance on the Voskhod launch vehicle, a platform derived from the R-7 Semyorka family, which was foundational to both Soviet crewed and uncrewed spaceflight. Launching from the historic Gagarin's Start site—the same pad used for Vostok 1—Cosmos 79 links the legacy of human spaceflight with the parallel development of military space assets. Its identification under the "Cosmos" designation also reflects the Soviet practice of obscuring the specific nature of military satellites by assigning them generic numerical designations.

## Notable For
- **Specific Launch Time:** The mission is recorded with a precise launch time of 10:10:02, allowing for accurate historical tracking.
- **Historic Launch Site:** It utilized Gagarin's Start, one of the most significant launch pads in spaceflight history.
- **Zenit-4 Classification:** It is a confirmed unit of the Zenit-4 series, a dedicated class for reconnaissance operations.
- **Dual-Use Heritage:** The use of the Voskhod launcher connects the mission to the hardware family used for the Soviet crewed Voskhod program.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 79 was a military spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union under the generic Cosmos designation. Its primary role was reconnaissance, fitted within the Zenit-4 class of satellites. These satellites were typically used for high-resolution photographic imaging of the Earth's surface.

### Launch Details
The satellite successfully achieved orbit on August 25, 1965. The launch was executed from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically utilizing the Gagarin's Start (Site 1/5) facility. The launch window was met at exactly 10:10:02 UTC. The vehicle used to place the satellite into orbit was the Voskhod rocket, a variant of the Soviet R-7 family.

### Technical Identifiers
In international catalogs, the mission is tracked using the COSPAR ID 1965-069A. It is also logged in the US Space Command's satellite catalog under the number 01523. In the Wolfram Language knowledge base, the entity is codified as `Entity["Satellite", "01523"]`.

### Associated Hardware
- **Zenit-4:** The satellite class, designed for reconnaissance.
- **Voskhod:** The launch vehicle, also associated with the Russian series of crewed spacecraft.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report