# Kosmos 869

> 1976 Soviet test spaceflight

**Wikidata**: [Q1785059](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1785059)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_869)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-869

## Summary
Kosmos 869 was a Soviet military satellite test spaceflight launched on November 29, 1976. It was a test mission utilizing a Soyuz-U launch vehicle and operated in low Earth orbit before landing on December 17, 1976.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** November 29, 1976
- **Mass:** 6800 kilograms (takeoff mass)
- **Operator:** Soviet space program
- **Class:** Military satellite
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start)
- **Orbit:** Low Earth Orbit (Periapsis: 209 km, Apoapsis: 289 km, Inclination: 51.7°)
- **Duration:** 25,800 minutes (approximately 18 days)
- **Landing Date:** December 17, 1976
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976-114A

## FAQs
### Q: What was Kosmos 869?
A: Kosmos 869 was a Soviet military satellite test spaceflight launched in 1976. Its specific purpose as a test mission is detailed in its classification as a military satellite.

### Q: When did Kosmos 869 launch and land?
A: Kosmos 869 launched on November 29, 1976, and landed on December 17, 1976, after a mission duration of 25,800 minutes.

### Q: What rocket launched Kosmos 869?
A: Kosmos 869 was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket variant.

### Q: Where was Kosmos 869 launched from?
A: The launch occurred from Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from Gagarin's Start pad.

### Q: What was Kosmos 869's orbit like?
A: Kosmos 869 operated in a low Earth orbit with a periapsis of 209 km, an apoapsis of 289 km, and an orbital inclination of 51.7 degrees relative to Earth.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 869 represents a specific instance within the Soviet Union's extensive military satellite testing program during the Cold War era. As a test flight designated under the Kosmos series, it contributed to the development and validation of technologies and systems for military applications in space. Missions like Kosmos 869 were crucial for advancing Soviet capabilities in satellite reconnaissance, communication, or other defense-related technologies, though the exact details of this specific test are not publicly documented beyond its basic parameters and classification. Its successful launch and landing demonstrated the operational reliability of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle for military payloads during this period.

## Notable For
- **Mass:** Had a significant takeoff mass of 6800 kilograms.
- **Orbital Parameters:** Operated in a low Earth orbit with a specific apogee (289 km) and perigee (209 km).
- **Mission Duration:** Completed a relatively short-duration test flight of approximately 18 days (25,800 minutes).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Utilized the Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse variant of the Soyuz program.
- **Classification:** Explicitly identified as a "military satellite" test mission.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Kosmos 869 was a Soviet test spaceflight conducted in 1976. It was launched on November 29, 1976, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start pad at 16:00:00 UTC. The mission concluded with a landing on December 17, 1976. Its primary designation was as a military satellite test flight.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass:** The satellite had a takeoff mass of 6800 kilograms.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket.
- **Operator:** The mission was conducted under the Soviet space program.
- **COSPAR ID:** Assigned the identifier 1976-114A.
- **Other IDs:** Also cataloged as SCN 09564 and Freebase ID /m/0b86cl.

### Orbital Details
- **Orbit Type:** Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- **Periapsis:** 209 kilometers above Earth.
- **Apoapsis:** 289 kilometers above Earth.
- **Orbital Inclination:** 51.7 degrees relative to Earth's equator.
- **Duration:** The mission lasted for 25,800 minutes.

### Classification and Context
- **Instance Of:** Classified as a military satellite.
- **Part Of:** Associated with the broader Soyuz programme.
- **Related Class:** Its class is military satellite, and its launch vehicle class is Soyuz-U.

## References

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