# Cosmos 848
**Wikidata**: [Q12754028](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754028)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-848

## Summary  
Cosmos 848 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1976 as part of the Zenit 2M series, designed for photographic intelligence gathering. It was deployed via a Soyuz-U rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, operating under the COSPAR ID 1976-082A.  

## Key Facts  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1976-082A  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 09280  
- **Launch Date**: August 12, 1976  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket  
- **Spacecraft Class**: Zenit 2M (Soviet spy satellite)  
- **Mission Type**: Photographic reconnaissance  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 848?  
A: Cosmos 848 was a Soviet spy satellite designed to conduct photographic reconnaissance, gathering intelligence as part of the Zenit 2M program.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 848 launched?  
A: It launched on August 12, 1976, at 13:30:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 in the Soviet Union.  

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 848?  
A: The satellite was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soyuz design optimized for universal payload deployment.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 848 represents a typical mission within the Soviet Union’s extensive Zenit spy satellite program, which played a critical role in Cold War-era reconnaissance. As part of the Zenit 2M class, it utilized advanced photographic technology for its time, contributing to the Soviet military’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. The use of the Soyuz-U rocket underscores the reliability and versatility of the Soyuz family, which remains a cornerstone of Russian space launches. While individual Zenit missions like Cosmos 848 were not publicly detailed, their collective impact reinforced the Soviet Union’s strategic surveillance efforts during the 1970s.  

## Notable For  
- **Class Membership**: Part of the Zenit 2M series, a second-generation Soviet reconnaissance satellite.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Deployed via the Soyuz-U, a widely used and reliable Soviet rocket variant.  
- **Mission Specificity**: Conducted photographic intelligence operations, a key function of Cold War-era spy satellites.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: August 12, 1976, at 13:30:00 UTC.  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, a primary Soviet launch facility.  
- **Rocket**: Soyuz-U (Universal), a modified Soyuz design for broader payload compatibility.  

### Spacecraft Specifications  
- **Class**: Zenit 2M, a military reconnaissance satellite with film-return capsules.  
- **Identifiers**:  
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1976-082A  
  - **SCN**: 09280  

### Mission Context  
- **Purpose**: To conduct photographic surveillance for Soviet military intelligence.  
- **Operations**: Zenit 2M satellites typically orbited Earth for approximately 14 days, after which film capsules were ejected and recovered mid-air.  

### Historical Significance  
- **Program Role**: Contributed to the Soviet Union’s systematic monitoring of strategic targets during the Cold War.  
- **Technological Lineage**: The Soyuz-U rocket, used for this launch, became a workhorse for Soviet and later Russian space missions, including crewed flights and satellite deployments.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report