# Kosmos 1348

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3398033](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3398033)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_1348)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1348

## Summary
Kosmos 1348 was a Russian military early warning satellite launched on April 7, 1982. As part of the Soviet US-K series, it was designed to detect missile launches. It was deployed into orbit using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Kosmos 1348 is an instance of the US-K class of satellites, a series used for Soviet and Russian early warning systems.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on April 7, 1982.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was transported to orbit aboard a Molniya-M rocket, a Soviet space launcher.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international satellite identifier is 1982-029A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the number 13124.
- **Launch Event:** The specific rocket launch occurred at 13:41:47 on the date of departure.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Kosmos 1348?
A: Kosmos 1348 was a Russian military early warning satellite. It belonged to the US-K series of spacecraft used for detecting potential missile threats.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 1348 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on April 7, 1982, at 13:41:47. It was delivered to orbit by a Molniya-M rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.

### Q: What is the US-K series referenced in the classification?
A: The US-K is a class of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites. Kosmos 1348 is listed specifically as an instance of this satellite class.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 1348 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's reliance on the US-K satellite series for strategic defense during the early 1980s. As a military early warning satellite, its primary role was to bolster national security by monitoring global hotspots for ballistic missile launches. The deployment of such satellites was critical for maintaining second-strike capability and providing the necessary reaction time for ground-based defenses during the Cold War.

The launch also highlights the operational importance of the Molniya-M rocket, a workhorse Soviet space launcher utilized for this specific class of satellite. Furthermore, the mission illustrates the typical operational flow of the Soviet space program, which frequently utilized the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 16, for military satellite deployments. By assigning a "Kosmos" designation, the Soviet Union obscured the specific military nature of the mission, a common practice for defense-related hardware of that era.

## Notable For
- **Class Identification:** It is explicitly classified as a **US-K** satellite, a key component of the Soviet early warning network.
- **Launch Configuration:** The mission utilized the **Molniya-M** launch vehicle, a standard rocket for this satellite category.
- **Precise Timing:** The launch event is recorded with exact second-level precision (13:41:47).
- **Launch Facility:** It originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16**, a frequent departure point for military satellites.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Kosmos 1348 was a man-made object designated for military purposes, specifically falling under the category of early warning satellites. Its formal classification links it to the **US-K** series (also known as Oko), a system developed by the Soviet Union and continued by Russia to detect the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **April 7, 1982**. The mission began at the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16**, a major launch complex used for both military and scientific payloads. The launch vehicle responsible for lifting the satellite into its required trajectory was the **Molniya-M**, a four-stage rocket derived from the R-7 family, which was frequently used for lunar and planetary missions as well as high-elliptical orbit satellites.

### Identifiers and Tracking
For international tracking and cataloging, Kosmos 1348 was assigned the **COSPAR ID** of **1982-029A**. In the official satellite catalog, it is registered under the **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)** **13124**. The launch was logged as a significant event occurring at **13:41:47** UTC. The designation "Kosmos 1348" follows the standard Soviet convention of naming military satellites with generic numerical designations to mask their true strategic function.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report