# Cosmos 960
**Wikidata**: [Q12754081](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754081)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-960

## Summary
Cosmos 960 was a Soviet signals intelligence satellite launched on October 25, 1977. Designated as part of the Tselina-OM class, it was deployed into orbit using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Tselina-OM class satellite (Soviet signals intelligence).
- **Launch Date:** October 25, 1977.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M rocket.
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1977-103A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 10430.
- **Launch Time:** 05:25:00.
- **Also Known As:** Kosmos 960.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 960?
A: Cosmos 960 was a signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite belonging to the Tselina-OM class, a model used by the Soviet Union for gathering electronic intelligence.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 960 launched?
A: It was launched on October 25, 1977, at 05:25:00 UTC. The launch vehicle was a Kosmos-3M rocket lifting off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: What is the international designator for Cosmos 960?
A: The satellite holds the COSPAR ID 1977-103A and the Satellite Catalog Number 10430.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 960 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's extensive space-based signals intelligence (SIGINT) program during the Cold War. As a unit of the Tselina-OM class, its significance lies in its role within a network of satellites designed to monitor and intercept electronic signals, such as radar emissions and communications, from adversary nations.

The deployment of Cosmos 960 demonstrates the operational tempo and technological capabilities of the Soviet military space program in the late 1970s. Specifically, the use of the Kosmos-3M launch vehicle—a workhorse for both military and scientific payloads—highlights the standardized launch infrastructure that supported widespread satellite deployment. By maintaining constellations like Tselina-OM, the Soviet Union could maintain persistent surveillance capabilities, which were critical for strategic planning and threat assessment during this era.

## Notable For
- **Classification:** Being a specialized Tselina-OM model, designed specifically for signals intelligence rather than general observation or communication.
- **Launch Infrastructure:** Utilizing Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key location for Soviet military launches.
- **Precise Tracking:** Being distinctly identified by COSPAR ID 1977-103A and SCN 10430 in international space catalogs.

## Body
### Mission and Classification
Cosmos 960 was an instance of the **Tselina-OM** class of satellites. This model is defined as a Soviet signals intelligence satellite, intended for the collection of electronic intelligence. The satellite is part of the broader "Cosmos" designation program, which the Soviet Union used for a wide variety of military and scientific spacecraft.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **October 25, 1977**. The significant event took place at **05:25:00** UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was delivered to orbit by a **Kosmos-3M** rocket, a two-stage liquid-propellant launch vehicle frequently used for military satellites.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132**, a major spaceport located in northwestern Russia (then the Soviet Union).

### Technical Identifiers
The following identifiers are associated with Cosmos 960 in orbital catalogs:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1977-103A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 10430
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "10430"]`

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report