# Kosmos 1247

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3400841](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3400841)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_1247)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1247

## Summary
Kosmos 1247 is a Russian military early warning satellite launched in 1981 as part of the US-K series. It was designed to detect missile launches and provide strategic defense alerts. The satellite was launched aboard a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: February 19, 1981 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1981-016A ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200386))  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Molniya-M rocket ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Satellite Catalog Number**: 12303 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q328))  
- **Class**: US-K series (Soviet/Russian early warning satellites) ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Function**: Military early warning for missile detection  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 1247?  
A: Kosmos 1247 was a military early warning satellite designed to detect ballistic missile launches and provide strategic defense alerts for the Soviet Union/Russia.  

### Q: When was Kosmos 1247 launched?  
A: It was launched on February 19, 1981, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Molniya-M rocket.  

### Q: What type of satellite was Kosmos 1247?  
A: It belonged to the US-K series, a class of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 1247 played a critical role in Cold War-era missile defense by providing early detection of potential nuclear threats. As part of the US-K series, it contributed to the Soviet Union's strategic early warning network, ensuring rapid response capabilities against missile attacks. These satellites were vital for maintaining nuclear deterrence and geopolitical stability during heightened tensions between superpowers. Its launch underscored the technological competition in space-based surveillance between the USSR and the United States.  

## Notable For  
- **Early Warning Role**: Part of a key Soviet/Russian missile detection system.  
- **Cold War Significance**: Contributed to strategic defense during heightened geopolitical tensions.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Used the Molniya-M rocket, a workhorse of Soviet space missions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: February 19, 1981  
- **Time**: 10:00:26 UTC ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Satellite Class**: US-K ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Catalog Number**: 12303 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q328))  

### Mission Context  
- **Function**: Military early warning for ballistic missile detection.  
- **Historical Significance**: Part of Soviet efforts to counter U.S. missile capabilities during the Cold War.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report