# Kosmos 862

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3399337](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3399337)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_862)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-862

## Summary  
Kosmos 862 is a Russian military early warning satellite launched in 1976 as part of the Oko satellite network, designed to detect missile launches and provide strategic warning. It belongs to the US-K class of satellites and was deployed during the Cold War to bolster Soviet defense capabilities.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: October 22, 1976  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Molniya-M rocket  
- **Part of**: Oko early warning satellite system  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1976-105A  
- **SCN**: 09495  
- **Class**: US-K (infrared sensor-equipped satellite)  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4  
- **Significant Event**: Launched at 09:11:59 UTC on October 22, 1976  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary mission of Kosmos 862?  
A: Kosmos 862 was designed to detect intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches using infrared sensors, providing early warnings to support nuclear deterrence strategies.  

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 862 launched?  
A: It was launched on October 22, 1976, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4 aboard a Molniya-M rocket.  

### Q: What class of satellite does Kosmos 862 belong to?  
A: It is part of the US-K series, a subset of the broader Oko early warning satellite network operated by the Soviet Union and later Russia.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 862 played a critical role in the Soviet Union’s nuclear defense infrastructure during the Cold War. As part of the Oko system, it provided early warnings of potential missile attacks, enabling timely countermeasures and contributing to strategic stability. These satellites were essential for maintaining mutual assured destruction (MAD) dynamics, as they reduced the risk of surprise attacks. Kosmos 862 exemplifies the technological investments made by superpowers to monitor and respond to nuclear threats, underscoring the broader geopolitical tensions of the era.  

## Notable For  
- **Oko System Membership**: Integral to the Soviet/Russian Oko early warning network, which remains operational in modified forms.  
- **US-K Class**: Utilized infrared sensors to detect missile launches, a hallmark of the US-K satellite design.  
- **Molniya-M Launch Vehicle**: Demonstrated the reliability of the Molniya-M rocket for high-priority military space missions.  
- **Cold War Context**: Embodied the technological arms race, specifically in missile detection and nuclear strategy.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: Launched on October 22, 1976, at 09:11:59 UTC.  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4, a key Soviet spaceport for military launches.  
- **Vehicle**: Molniya-M rocket, a workhorse for Soviet satellite deployments.  

### Classification  
- **Class**: US-K, a first-generation early warning satellite with infrared payloads.  
- **Parent Program**: Oko (Russian for "eye"), a network of satellites monitoring missile activity.  

### Mission & Operations  
- **Role**: Provided infrared-based detection of ICBM launches, transmitting data to command centers.  
- **Legacy**: Part of a constellation that laid the groundwork for modern Russian early warning systems.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Identifiers**: COSPAR ID 1976-105A, SCN 09495.  
- **Launch Context**: One of numerous Oko satellites launched between 1971 and 2019 to maintain 24/7 surveillance.

## References

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