# Cosmos 823
**Wikidata**: [Q12754020](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754020)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-823

## Summary
Cosmos 823 is a Soviet satellite launched on June 2, 1976, aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132. Part of the Tsyklon program, it utilized the Zaliv satellite bus and was assigned the COSPAR ID 1976-051A and satellite catalog number 08873. It supported naval communication operations as part of the Soviet military satellite network.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 2, 1976, at 22:30:15 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket (Soviet/Russian expendable launch system).
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1976-051A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 08873.
- **Satellite Bus**: Zaliv-class spacecraft.
- **Program Affiliation**: Part of the Tsyklon (Cyclone) satellite program.
- **Mission Type**: Naval communication and support satellite.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Cosmos 823 launched?
A: Cosmos 823 was launched on June 2, 1976, at 22:30:15 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 823?
A: It served as a naval communication satellite under the Soviet Tsyklon program, supporting military operations.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 823?
A: The satellite was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket, a reliable Soviet/Russian launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 823 represents a key component of the Soviet Union’s Tsyklon satellite program, designed to enhance naval communication capabilities during the Cold War. As part of this network, it contributed to strategic military operations, ensuring reliable data transmission for naval fleets. The use of the Kosmos-3M rocket underscores the efficiency of Soviet space technology, which remained in service for decades. While individual satellites like Cosmos 823 were not publicly detailed, their collective role in maintaining Soviet military infrastructure highlights their historical significance in the broader context of space-based defense systems.

## Notable For
- **Tsyklon Program Affiliation**: Part of a series of satellites critical to Soviet naval communications.
- **Zaliv Satellite Bus**: Utilized a standardized spacecraft design for reliability and cost-effectiveness.
- **Kosmos-3M Launch Vehicle**: Demonstrated the rocket’s reliability, which saw extensive use from 1967 to 2010.
- **Cold War-Era Operations**: Played a role in maintaining Soviet military readiness during geopolitical tensions.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: June 2, 1976, at 22:30:15 UTC.
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key Soviet launch facility.
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M (11K65M), a lightweight, cost-effective rocket derived from R-14 Chusovaya ICBM technology.

### Satellite Characteristics
- **Bus**: Zaliv-class, a standardized satellite platform for naval support missions.
- **Identifiers**: 
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1976-051A.
  - **SCN**: 08873.
- **Mission Type**: Designed for store-dump communications, relaying messages between naval units and ground stations.

### Mission Context
- **Tsyklon Program**: A series of satellites (Tsyklon and Tsyklon-2) tasked with supporting Soviet naval operations, including tracking and communication for ballistic missile submarines.
- **Operational Role**: Contributed to the Soviet Union’s strategic military communications network during the Cold War, ensuring operational readiness in remote or contested maritime zones.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report