Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
20:41:00
Tuesday October 14, 1980
Cosmos 1215 is a satellite of the Tselina-OM constellation. Tselina-OM is a Russian, formerly Soviet, military space-based radio surveillance system. It is capable of determining the exact location of radio-emitting objects and also their type, modes of operation, and how active they are. For instance, preparation for a military operation may raise the activity of the radio communications. Detection of these communications by a space-based surveillance system can provide early warning of this activity, warning that may be unavailable by other means.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
400 kilograms
247th
Mission
13th
Mission of 1980
1442nd
Mission
71st
Mission of 1980
85th
Orbital launch attempt