# Kosmos 327

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53065](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53065)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_327)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-327

## Summary  
Kosmos 327 was a Soviet DS‑P1‑I radar‑calibration satellite launched on 18 March 1970 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑2I carrier rocket. Built by the Pivdenne Design Office, it carried the COSPAR designation 1970‑020A and served to test and calibrate ground‑based radar tracking systems.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 18 March 1970 (14:39:56 UTC) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133.  
- **Satellite type:** DS‑P1‑I radar‑calibration spacecraft (also known as DS‑P1‑I No. 8).  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑2I carrier rocket, a Soviet launch system that superseded earlier models.  
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office, a major Soviet aerospace design bureau.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1970‑020A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 04351.  
- **Purpose:** To provide radar calibration and tracking data for Soviet ground‑based radar installations.  
- **Related class:** Part of the DS‑P1‑I series of calibration satellites, which supported the Soviet Union’s space‑tracking infrastructure.  
- **Wikipedia title:** “Kosmos 327” (available in English, Spanish, Galician, Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, and Serbian).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary mission of Kosmos 327?  
A: Kosmos 327 was a radar‑calibration satellite designed to test and fine‑tune Soviet ground‑based radar tracking systems.  

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 327 launched?  
A: It launched on 18 March 1970 at 14:39:56 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133, using a Kosmos‑2I rocket.  

### Q: Which organization built Kosmos 327?  
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, a leading Soviet aerospace design bureau.  

### Q: What is the COSPAR identifier for Kosmos 327?  
A: Its COSPAR ID is 1970‑020A.  

### Q: How does Kosmos 327 relate to other Soviet satellites?  
A: It belongs to the DS‑P1‑I class, a series of radar‑calibration satellites used throughout the 1960s and 1970s to support the Soviet Union’s space‑tracking network.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 327 played a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy and reliability of the Soviet Union’s radar and tracking infrastructure during the Cold War. By providing calibrated reference signals, the satellite enabled ground stations to verify the performance of their radar arrays, which were essential for both civilian space monitoring and military early‑warning systems. As part of the DS‑P1‑I series, Kosmos 327 contributed to a broader effort to ensure that Soviet launch vehicles and spacecraft could be precisely tracked, reducing the risk of misidentification and improving overall mission safety. Its successful deployment demonstrated the effectiveness of the Kosmos‑2I launch vehicle and reinforced the strategic importance of dedicated calibration satellites in a rapidly expanding orbital environment. Understanding Kosmos 327’s function offers insight into the technical underpinnings of Cold‑War era space surveillance and the engineering practices that supported Soviet space operations.  

## Notable For  
- Being the eighth satellite in the DS‑P1‑I radar‑calibration series (DS‑P1‑I No. 8).  
- Launching aboard a Kosmos‑2I rocket, a key workhorse that superseded earlier Soviet launchers.  
- Providing essential calibration data that enhanced the precision of Soviet radar tracking networks.  
- Contributing to the reliability of both civilian and military space missions during a period of intense geopolitical tension.  
- Maintaining a catalog entry (SCN 04351) that remains referenced in modern satellite databases.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Kosmos 327 is classified as a DS‑P1‑I satellite, a Soviet‑designed platform specifically built for radar calibration. The DS‑P1‑I series comprised small, low‑mass satellites launched to generate predictable radar signatures for ground‑based tracking stations.

### Mission Profile  
- **Objective:** Generate calibrated radar returns to verify and adjust the performance of Soviet radar installations.  
- **Operational Role:** Served as a reference target for tracking radars, ensuring accurate orbital data for subsequent missions.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 18 March 1970, 14:39:56 UTC.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133, a primary launch complex for military and scientific payloads.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑2I, a two‑stage launch rocket derived from the R‑12 missile, known for its reliability in placing small payloads into low Earth orbit.  

### Design and Manufacture  
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office, responsible for many Soviet satellite and launch‑vehicle designs.  
- **Physical Characteristics:** While specific dimensions are not listed, DS‑P1‑I satellites were typically compact, lightweight, and equipped with simple radio‑frequency transponders for radar reflection.  

### Legacy and Impact  
Kosmos 327’s successful deployment reinforced the utility of dedicated calibration satellites within the Soviet space program. The data it supplied helped maintain the fidelity of radar tracking, which was vital for both launch safety and strategic surveillance. Its inclusion in the DS‑P1‑I series illustrates the systematic approach the USSR took toward building a robust, self‑sustaining orbital monitoring capability.  

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*All information presented is derived from the provided source material and reflects the documented attributes of Kosmos 327.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013