Kosmos 1217

Kosmos 1217
Mission typeEarly warning
COSPAR ID1980-085A
SATCAT no.12032
Mission duration4 years
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeUS-K
Launch mass1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date24 October 1980, 10:53 (1980-10-24UTC10:53Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M/2BL
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome
End of mission
Deactivated20 March 1983
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMolniya
Perigee altitude769 kilometres (478 mi)
Apogee altitude39,582 kilometres (24,595 mi)
Inclination63.0 degrees
Period717.72 minutes

Kosmos 1217 (Russian: Космос 1217 meaning Cosmos 1217) was a Soviet US-K missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1980 as part of the Soviet military's Oko programme. The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

Kosmos 1217 was launched from Site 41/1 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian SSR. A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 10:53 UTC on 24 October 1980. The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1980-085A. The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 12032.