# Kosmos 849

> Soviet anti-satellite test target satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53632](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53632)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_849)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-849

## Summary
Kosmos 849 was a Soviet satellite launched on August 18, 1976, designated as a target for anti-satellite weapon tests. Manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, it belonged to the DS-P1-I class of spacecraft, which were primarily utilized for radar calibration and as targets for the Soviet co-orbital anti-satellite system.

## Key Facts
- **Function:** Served as a Soviet anti-satellite test target satellite.
- **Launch Date:** August 18, 1976, at 09:30:01 UTC.
- **Model Classification:** A DS-P1-I model satellite, a class used for radar calibration.
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-2I carrier rocket.
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976-083A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 09382.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Kosmos 849?
A: Kosmos 849 was designed to function as a target satellite for Soviet anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons tests. Although it belonged to a class originally designed for radar calibration, this specific mission was dedicated to military testing.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 849 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on August 18, 1976, at 09:30:01 UTC. It was delivered into orbit using a Kosmos-2I carrier rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133.

### Q: Who built Kosmos 849?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, a major Soviet spacecraft design bureau.

### Q: What type of satellite model was Kosmos 849?
A: It was a DS-P1-I model satellite. This model class is historically associated with radar calibration and target practice for defensive space systems.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 849 represents a specific era of Cold War space activity where the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) weaponry was a strategic priority for the Soviet Union. As part of the "Kosmos" program—a designation used to mask a wide variety of military and scientific satellites—this entity highlights the dual-use nature of space technology during the 1970s. While officially part of a series often used for radar calibration (DS-P1-I), its specific designation as an "anti-satellite test target" provides verifiable evidence of the Soviet Union's active testing of offensive capabilities in space.

The launch is significant for space history researchers and military analysts because it documents the ongoing proliferation of space debris and the historical escalation of space warfare capabilities. The use of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the Kosmos-2I launch vehicle further contextualizes the industrial and logistical infrastructure supporting these military tests. Understanding missions like Kosmos 849 helps define the timeline of the militarization of space and the evolution of satellite interception technologies.

## Notable For
- **Military Application:** Distinguished specifically as a target for anti-satellite weapons, rather than a standard communications or scientific satellite.
- **Classification:** Represents the DS-P1-I class of satellites, demonstrating the adaptation of radar calibration technology for weapons testing.
- **Launch Precision:** Recorded with a precise launch time (09:30:01), allowing for accurate historical tracking of orbital events.
- **Database Presence:** Indexed across multiple major knowledge bases, including Wikidata, Freebase, and the Wolfram Language, confirming its recognized status in satellite catalogs.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Kosmos 849 was launched as part of the Soviet Union's extensive Kosmos program. While the DS-P1-I class of satellites was originally developed for radar calibration purposes, Kosmos 849 was utilized as a target vehicle. This practice was common in the Soviet co-orbital anti-satellite system, where a "killer" satellite would intercept and destroy a target satellite. The satellite was assigned the COSPAR international designator 1976-083A and the Satellite Catalog Number 09382.

### Launch and Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on August 18, 1976. The mission originated from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 133/1. The launch vehicle used was the Kosmos-2I, a two-stage rocket derived from the R-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which was frequently used for lighter military payloads. The manufacturer responsible for the spacecraft was the Pivdenne Design Office (also known as Yuzhnoye), located in the Ukrainian SSR.

### Technical Identifiers
The entity is tracked in modern knowledge bases via several identifiers:
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "09382"]`
- **Freebase ID:** `/m/064msqc`
- **Wikidata Description:** Soviet anti-satellite test target satellite

## References

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