# Kosmos-1521

> artificial satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q12907421](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907421)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1521

## Summary
Kosmos-1521 was a Soviet artificial satellite launched on December 29, 1983. As part of the Kosmos series, which encompasses Soviet and Russian military satellites, it was delivered into orbit using a Proton-K carrier rocket equipped with a Blok DM-2 space tug.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** December 29, 1983.
- **Launch Time:** 00:52:24 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-K (Russian/Soviet carrier rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **Satellite Classification:** Artificial satellite; instance of the Kosmos series.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1983-127C.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 14592.
- **Upper Stage:** Blok DM-2 space tug.
- **Series Affiliation:** Kosmos (series of Soviet and Russian military satellites).

## FAQs
### Q: When was Kosmos-1521 launched?
A: Kosmos-1521 was launched on December 29, 1983, at 00:52:24 UTC.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Kosmos-1521?
A: The satellite was launched using a Proton-K carrier rocket, a heavy-lift launch vehicle previously used by the Soviet Union and Russia.

### Q: What kind of satellite is Kosmos-1521?
A: Kosmos-1521 is an artificial satellite belonging to the Kosmos series, a class of Soviet and Russian spacecraft primarily utilized for military purposes.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos-1521 represents a specific configuration within the extensive Kosmos satellite program, highlighting the operational capabilities of the Soviet space industry in the early 1980s. Its launch utilized the Proton-K rocket combined with a Blok DM-2 space tug, a configuration frequently employed for heavy payloads or missions requiring specific orbital insertion capabilities characteristic of military or high-priority government satellites.

Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200, the mission contributes to the historical record of the Kosmos series, which served as a standardized designation for a wide array of Soviet military satellites. By obscuring the specific function of these spacecraft under a generic name, the Soviet Union utilized missions like Kosmos-1521 to maintain strategic ambiguity while advancing space-based reconnaissance, communication, or navigation technologies during the Cold War era.

## Notable For
- **Military Classification:** Being part of the Kosmos series, designated for Soviet and Russian military satellites.
- **Heavy-Lift Launch:** Utilization of the Proton-K rocket, indicating a heavier or more complex payload than typical lighter satellites.
- **Specific Orbital Tug:** Deployment involved a Blok DM-2 space tug, a specialized upper stage used for precise orbital maneuvers.
- **Launch Infrastructure:** Launched from Site 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a major spaceport for Soviet operations.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Kosmos-1521 is identified as an artificial satellite launched under the Soviet Kosmos program. It received the standard Kosmos designation upon reaching orbit, a practice common for Soviet military spacecraft to conceal their specific mission objectives. The satellite is cataloged internationally with the COSPAR ID 1983-127C and the Satellite Catalog Number 14592.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on December 29, 1983. The specific launch event is recorded as a "rocket launch" taking place at 00:52:24 UTC. The mission originated from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200, a primary launch facility used for the Proton family of rockets.

### Vehicle and Propulsion
The launch vehicle for Kosmos-1521 was the Proton-K, a heavy-lift rocket developed by the Soviet Union. This mission notably utilized a **Blok DM-2** as a space tug (upper stage). The Blok DM-2 is a critical component used to propel the satellite from an initial parking orbit to its final destination, often implying the need for high-energy orbital insertion.

### Series Context
Kosmos-1521 is an instance of the **Kosmos** class. This series is broadly defined as a collection of Soviet and Russian military satellites. As of the available data, information regarding Kosmos-1521 is present in multiple Wikipedia languages (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian) and is tracked in the Wolfram Language entity system.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report