Space Brief 23 May 2025
Today's briefing highlights a significant increase in the Pentagon's AI budget, upgrades at the Tiangong space station, cyber threats to satellite operations, and the Moon and Venus conjunction.
COSMOS 1256 (12326)
COSPAR: 1981-022G | Alt Name: Kosmos-1256
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
March 6, 1981
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
12326
International Designator
1981-022G
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:57:59 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
74.03°
Right Ascension
325.98°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
134.36°
Period
115.24 min
Mean Motion
12.50 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
COSMOS 1256
Alternative Name
Kosmos-1256
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
GUKOS
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 12326U 81022G 26184.83193946 -.00000007 00000-0 58175-4 0 9999
2 12326 74.0314 325.9777 0012389 134.3567 33.5374 12.49600685 67679
Source: Celestrak
Summary
COSMOS 1256 (also known as Kosmos-1256) is a military communication satellite launched on March 6, 1981, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos 11K65M launch vehicle. Manufactured by NPOPM and operated by GUKOS, this satellite has dimensions of 0.8 meters in length, diameter, and span, with both dry mass and launch mass at 60 kilograms. Equipped with solar cells and batteries for power supply, COSMOS 1256 was designed to support military communication purposes. Its shape is described as polyhedral, and it had a calculated RCS (Radar Cross Section) of 0.6864 square meters. The satellite carried the Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 7 payload and operated for approximately six months.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.8
Diameter
0.8
Span
0.8
Dry Mass
60
Launch Mass
60
Shape
Poly
Radar Cross Section
0.6864
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 7
Purpose
Military Communication
Mission
Military Communication
Manufacturer
NPOPM
Life Expectancy
6 months
Bus
Strela-1 11F625
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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