COSMOS 1265, also known as Kosmos-1265, is a reconnaissance satellite launched by the Soviet Union on April 16, 1981, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle from Launch Pad LC41/1. It has a Zenit-6 bus configuration and carries an Argon No. 33L payload for photo reconnaissance with film return capability. The satellite measures 6 meters in length and 2.2 meters in diameter, with a dry mass of 2655 kilograms and the same launch mass. Its shape is described as a sphere plus a DCone, and it uses batteries for power. COSMOS 1265 was equipped with motors 11D82M and S5.120 to enable maneuvers in orbit and had a mission lifetime of 14 days. The satellite's purpose was to conduct photo reconnaissance missions.