NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1972-048A
Cosmos 497 was a military weather satellite launched as part of the Cosmos space research program. Its actual mission was to determine cloudcover conditions over selected areas. Cosmos 497 was one of a long series of spin-stabilized spacecraft believed to have originated concurrently with the Soviets first test by the Soviet Union of recoverable reconnaissance satellite in 1962. To achieve greater spatial resolution, these Cosmos military weather satellites were launched into relatively low orbits. Consequently, these spacecraft have a fairly short lifetime (generally five to size months) and must be continually replaced.
Launch Date: 1972-06-30
Launch Vehicle: Kosmos-2I
Launch Site: Plesetsk, U.S.S.R
Mass: 300 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office