# Kosmos 880

> Soviet military artificial satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53635](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53635)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_880)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-880

## Summary
Kosmos 880 is a Soviet military artificial satellite launched on 9 December 1976 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 by a Kosmos-3M rocket. It belongs to the long-running Kosmos series of Soviet and Russian military spacecraft.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: 9 December 1976 at 20:00 UTC
- Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, Soviet Union
- Launch vehicle: Kosmos-3M rocket
- International designator (COSPAR ID): 1976-120A
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 09601
- Series: Kosmos military satellite series
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Freebase identifier: /m/064llly
- Wolfram Language entity: Entity["Satellite", "09601"]

## FAQs
### Q: When was Kosmos 880 launched?
A: Kosmos 880 was launched on 9 December 1976 at 20:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What rocket launched Kosmos 880?
A: Kosmos 880 was launched by a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Soviet expendable launch vehicle.

### Q: What type of satellite is Kosmos 880?
A: Kosmos 880 is a Soviet military artificial satellite, part of the Kosmos series of military spacecraft.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 880 represents a critical component of the Soviet Union's military space program during the Cold War era. As part of the Kosmos series, it contributed to the USSR's military capabilities in space, which were essential for maintaining strategic parity with the United States. The satellite's launch in December 1976 demonstrates the ongoing commitment to military space technology during this period. The Kosmos series, numbering in the thousands, formed the backbone of Soviet military space operations, serving various purposes including reconnaissance, communications, and navigation. Kosmos 880's successful deployment by the Kosmos-3M rocket highlights the reliability of this launch vehicle, which was a workhorse of the Soviet space program. Understanding satellites like Kosmos 880 helps historians and space technology experts trace the evolution of military space systems and their role in Cold War dynamics.

## Notable For
- Part of the extensive Kosmos series of military satellites
- Launched during the height of Cold War space competition in 1976
- Successfully deployed by the reliable Kosmos-3M launch vehicle
- Represents Soviet military space technology of the mid-1970s
- One of thousands of Kosmos satellites supporting Soviet military objectives

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
Kosmos 880 was launched on 9 December 1976 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, located in the northern part of the Soviet Union. The launch occurred at 20:00 UTC, marking another successful deployment in the ongoing Kosmos satellite program. The Kosmos-3M rocket, a two-stage expendable launch vehicle developed by the Soviet Union, carried the satellite into orbit.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite is designated with the COSPAR ID 1976-120A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 09601. These identifiers allow tracking and cataloging of the spacecraft within international space object databases. Kosmos 880 is classified as a military artificial satellite, continuing the tradition of the Kosmos series in supporting Soviet defense objectives.

### The Kosmos Series Context
The Kosmos designation encompasses a vast array of Soviet and Russian spacecraft, numbering in the thousands since the program's inception. These satellites serve various military and civilian purposes, with Kosmos 880 being specifically designated as a military satellite. The series represents one of the most extensive satellite programs in space history, with launches spanning from the early 1960s to the present day.

### Launch Vehicle: Kosmos-3M
The Kosmos-3M rocket that launched Kosmos 880 is a modified version of the original Kosmos-3 launch vehicle. This rocket family has been instrumental in deploying numerous Kosmos satellites, demonstrating reliability and versatility in placing payloads into various orbital configurations.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report