The designation Kosmos (Russian: Космос meaning Cosmos) is a generic name given to a large number of Soviet, and subsequently Russian, satellites, the first of which was launched in 1962. Satellites given Kosmos designations include military spacecraft, failed probes to the Moon and the planets, prototypes for crewed spacecraft, and scientific spacecraft. This is a list of satellites with Kosmos designations between 1251 and 1500.
Plesetsk launch. Orbit 1,491 x 1,514 km. Inclination 82.6 degrees. First of new upgraded series of geodetic satellites.[3] Carried out study of the shape of the Earth and the accurate mapping of the Earth's surface to enable accurate targeting of military missiles.[4]
Kapustin Yar launch. Orbit 158 x 204 km. Inclination 50.7 degrees. Mass-possibly 1 tonne. Recovered after 1 orbit, in the Indian Ocean.[7] First orbital test of the BOR-4 prototype spaceplane.
Baikonur launch. Orbit 251 x 264 km. Inclination 65 degrees. Mass-possibly 3,500 kg.[11]Nuclear reactor failed to eject, spacecraft re-entered over the Atlantic Ocean.
Second of new upgraded second series of Soviet geodetic satellites. Carried out study of the shape of the Earth and accurate mapping of the Earth's surface to enable accurate targeting of military missiles.[12]
Disintegrated when the Molniya Block L stage ignited to take the payloads out of low Earth orbit into planned eccentric Molniya-class orbit.Broke up on launch day.[2]
Large space station module addition to Salyut 7.[16]
19 September 1983
Baikonur launch. Orbit 325 x 327 km. Inclination 52 degrees. Docked with Salyut 7 eight days after launch. Used by Soyuz T-9 crew from 30 Jun 1983 to 14 Aug 1983. Re-entry capsule component returned 350 kg of cargo to earth on 23 Aug 1983. De-orbit burn-up of rest of Kosmos 1443 on 19 Sep 1983.[17]
Second orbital test of the BOR-4 prototype spaceplane. First photograph of a BOR-4 craft seen by the rest of the world, taken in the Indian Ocean after splashdown, by the Australian Air Force.[19]
Plesetsk launch. Orbit 634 x 679 km. Inclination 82.6 degrees. First USSR satellite equipped with SLSR (Side-looking Satellite Radar)-Resolution 1.5-2.0 km, Swath Width 450–500 km. Used for ocean surface observations. In December 1983 data from Kosmos 1500 was used to map escape routes for a lot of Soviet ships trapped in heavy Arctic ice in the De Long Straits near Wrangel Island. Kosmos 1500 provided images of Typhoon Ida near the coast of Japan showing the structure of the waves. Pictures also showed an apparent oil slick greater than 300 km extended from Tokyo Bay.[24]
* — satellite was destroyed in orbit rather than decaying and burning up in the Earth's atmosphere
