COSMOS 1248 (also known as Kosmos-1248) is a reconnaissance satellite launched on March 5, 1981, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 6.3 meters in length and has a diameter of 2.7 meters, with a span of 6.3 meters. It had a dry mass of 2886 kg and was equipped with two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power. Its configuration includes the Yantar Bus with a main reentry module and two small reentry capsules designed to return film from its Zhemchug-4 camera. The satellite, manufactured by TSSKB and owned by GUKOS, operated for 30 days on a reconnaissance mission focused on photo surveillance with film-return capabilities.