# Cosmos 865
**Wikidata**: [Q12907814](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907814)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-865

## Summary
Cosmos 865 is a Soviet Zenit 2M reconnaissance satellite launched on November 1, 1976. It was part of the USSR's military space program and was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite is also known by the alternate designation Kosmos 865 and has the COSPAR ID 1976-109A.

## Key Facts
- Official designation: Cosmos 865; alternate name: Kosmos 865
- COSPAR ID: 1976-109A
- Satellite class: Zenit 2M (Soviet spy satellite)
- Launch date: November 1, 1976
- Launch time: 11:20:00 UTC
- Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz-U rocket
- SCN (Space Command Number): 09515
- Instance of: Zenit 2M satellite series
- Wikipedia languages with articles: Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)

## FAQs
### Q: What is Cosmos 865?
A: Cosmos 865 is a Soviet military reconnaissance satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class. It was launched on November 1, 1976, to conduct intelligence-gathering operations from orbit.

### Q: When was Cosmos 865 launched?
A: Cosmos 865 was launched on November 1, 1976, at 11:20:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia using a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: What kind of satellite is Cosmos 865?
A: Cosmos 865 is a Zenit 2M satellite, which was a type of optical reconnaissance satellite used by the Soviet Union for military surveillance purposes.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 865 represents a key component of the Soviet Union’s Cold War-era space-based intelligence infrastructure. As part of the Zenit 2M program, it contributed to the USSR's capability to monitor global activities from orbit, supporting national security objectives through high-resolution imagery and surveillance data. Its launch reflects the technological competition between superpowers during the 1970s, when both the United States and Soviet Union heavily invested in advancing their respective spy satellite programs. Cosmos 865 exemplifies how space technology became instrumental in geopolitical strategy and military planning during this era.

## Notable For
- Part of the classified Zenit 2M military satellite program
- Launched during peak Cold War reconnaissance efforts by the Soviet Union
- Utilized the widely-used Soyuz-U launch system
- Operated under dual naming convention: Cosmos and official mission designation
- Represents one of many successful launches from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 865 was a Soviet military reconnaissance satellite developed as part of the Zenit 2M program. Designed primarily for optical surveillance missions, these satellites were integral to gathering strategic intelligence during the Cold War period.

### Technical Classification
The spacecraft belonged to the Zenit 2M class, a subclass of the broader Zenit family of reconnaissance satellites operated by the Soviet Union. These satellites typically carried film-return capsules for delivering photographic intelligence back to Earth.

### Launch Details
- **Launch Date:** November 1, 1976  
- **Launch Time:** 11:20:00 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U  
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/4  

The launch occurred at the height of the Cold War, aligning with intensified Soviet efforts to maintain orbital surveillance capabilities over potential adversaries.

### Identifiers and References
- **SCN (Space Command Number):** 09515  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976-109A  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 865  
- **Instance Of:** Zenit 2M satellite  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "09515"]  

These identifiers are used across international databases and tracking systems to uniquely catalog and reference the satellite.

### Documentation and Coverage
Articles about Cosmos 865 exist in several Slavic-language Wikipedias including Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian editions, indicating regional interest or historical documentation within those linguistic communities.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report