# Kosmos 487

> Soviet satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53579](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53579)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_487)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-487

## Summary  
Kosmos 487 was a Soviet‑built satellite of the DSZ‑P1‑Ju (DS‑P1‑Yu) class launched on 21 April 1972 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑2I carrier rocket. It is catalogued internationally as COSPAR 1972‑033A and carries the Soviet internal designation DS‑P1‑Yu No. 57.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 21 April 1972 (UTC)【source】.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑2I rocket, a Soviet carrier rocket that superseded earlier models【source】.  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133, Russia【source】.  
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office, a Soviet aerospace design bureau【source】.  
- **Satellite class:** Instance of the DSZ‑P1‑Ju (DS‑P1‑Yu) series of Soviet satellites【source】.  
- **International designations:** COSPAR ID 1972‑033A; SCN 06006; Freebase ID /m/07k4r43【source】.  
- **Alternative names:** DS‑P1‑Yu No. 57; Kosmos 487【source】.  
- **Wikipedia presence:** Articles in 7 languages (en, es, gl, mk, pt, sh, sr)【source】.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Kosmos 487 launched?  
A: Kosmos 487 was launched on 21 April 1972 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  

### Q: What launch vehicle carried Kosmos 487 into orbit?  
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Kosmos‑2I carrier rocket, a Soviet launch system that replaced earlier models.  

### Q: What type of satellite is Kosmos 487?  
A: It belongs to the DSZ‑P1‑Ju (also known as DS‑P1‑Yu) class of Soviet satellites, identified as DS‑P1‑Yu No. 57.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 487 illustrates the breadth of the Soviet Union’s satellite program during the early 1970s, a period marked by rapid expansion of space capabilities for both scientific and military purposes. As a member of the DSZ‑P1‑Ju series, the satellite contributed to the testing and validation of technologies that underpinned later Soviet orbital assets. Its launch from Plesetsk using the Kosmos‑2I vehicle demonstrated the reliability of a launch system that would become a workhorse for low‑Earth‑orbit missions, supporting a range of payloads from navigation to electronic intelligence. By documenting each individual launch, historians and engineers can trace the evolution of Soviet launch infrastructure, design practices at the Pivdenne Design Office, and the operational tempo of the Cold‑War space race. Kosmos 487 therefore serves as a data point in understanding how the USSR maintained a sustained presence in orbit and refined its launch capabilities.

## Notable For  
- Being the 57th satellite in the DS‑P1‑Yu series (DS‑P1‑Yu No. 57).  
- Launching on a Kosmos‑2I rocket, a key Soviet launch vehicle that succeeded earlier models.  
- Utilising Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133, highlighting the strategic use of northern launch sites.  
- Carrying the COSPAR identifier 1972‑033A, linking it to the global satellite catalog.  
- Having multilingual Wikipedia coverage, reflecting its recognition across several language communities.  

## Body  

### Classification and Design  
- **Class:** DSZ‑P1‑Ju (DS‑P1‑Yu) – a series of Soviet satellites used for various experimental and operational missions.  
- **Instance:** Officially recorded as DS‑P1‑Yu No. 57, indicating its sequential position within the series.  
- **Manufacturer:** Designed and built by the Pivdenne Design Office, a major Soviet aerospace design bureau.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 21 April 1972, recorded at 11:59:59 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑2I, a two‑stage launch rocket that superseded earlier Soviet carrier rockets.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133, a northern launch complex frequently used for military and scientific payloads.  

### Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1972‑033A – the international designation used for tracking orbital objects.  
- **SCN:** 06006 – a Soviet catalog number.  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/07k4r43 – an identifier from the now‑archived Freebase database.  

### Context within the Soviet Space Program  
- Kosmos 487 formed part of a broader effort to populate low‑Earth orbit with a variety of satellites for testing, communications, and reconnaissance.  
- The use of the Kosmos‑2I launcher and the Plesetsk site reflects the Soviet strategy of diversifying launch assets and locations to increase mission resilience.  

### Documentation and References  
- Information compiled from Wikidata entries and academic sources (e.g., Q6272367, Q8449, Q15241312).  
- The satellite is listed under the Wikipedia title “Kosmos 487” and appears in seven language editions, confirming its documented status in public knowledge bases.

## References

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