# Cosmos 992
**Wikidata**: [Q12907847](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907847)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-992

## Summary
Cosmos 992 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on March 4, 1978, as part of the Zenit 2M satellite program, primarily designed for reconnaissance purposes.

## Key Facts
- COSPAR ID: 1978-025A
- SCN (Satellite Catalog Number): 10699
- Launch date: 1978-03-04 at 07:40:00 UTC
- Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz-U rocket
- Instance of: Zenit 2M class of Soviet spy satellites
- Also known as: Kosmos 992
- Wikipedia available in: Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian languages

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 992?
A: Cosmos 992 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class, which was specifically designed for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering operations during the Cold War period.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 992 launched?
A: Cosmos 992 was launched on March 4, 1978, at 07:40:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 using a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: What technical specifications distinguish Cosmos 992?
A: As a Zenit 2M satellite, Cosmos 992 belonged to a specific Soviet reconnaissance satellite design variant, with a catalog number of 10699 and a COSPAR identifier of 1978-025A.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 992 represents the Soviet Union's continued development of reconnaissance satellite technology during the late Cold War period. As part of the Zenit 2M program, it contributed to the USSR's space-based intelligence capabilities, providing valuable photographic and electronic intelligence data. These satellites played a crucial role in monitoring military activities, verifying arms control agreements, and gathering strategic information. The Zenit 2M class represented an evolution in Soviet reconnaissance technology, and Cosmos 992 specifically exemplifies the routine operations of these vital intelligence assets during this period of geopolitical tension between superpowers.

## Notable For
- Belonged to the Zenit 2M class, a specialized Soviet spy satellite program
- Launched during a period of heightened Cold War tensions in 1978
- Utilized the reliable Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse of Soviet space launches
- One of numerous Cosmos satellites that formed the backbone of Soviet reconnaissance capabilities
- Featured in multiple language Wikipedia editions, indicating its documented international significance

## Body

### Mission and Purpose
Cosmos 992 was a reconnaissance satellite designed for intelligence gathering operations. As a member of the Zenit 2M class, it was part of the Soviet Union's strategic space-based surveillance system aimed at monitoring military activities and gathering strategic information.

### Technical Specifications
- **Class**: Zenit 2M (Soviet spy satellite)
- **SCN**: 10699
- **COSPAR ID**: 1978-025A
- **Launch date**: 1978-03-04
- **Launch time**: 07:40:00 UTC
- **Launch site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31
- **Launch vehicle**: Soyuz-U

### Program Context
The Zenit 2M was a Soviet satellite design variant optimized for reconnaissance purposes. Cosmos 992 was launched using the Soyuz-U rocket, a proven Soviet launch vehicle that was instrumental in numerous space missions throughout the Cold War period.

### Documentation
- **Wikipedia languages**: mk, sh, sr
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: Entity["Satellite", "10699"]
- **Sitelink count**: 3

The satellite, like others in the Cosmos series, served as a component of the Soviet space surveillance network, providing valuable intelligence data to support military and strategic decision-making during the late 1970s.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report