The satellite was designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

[2] Kosmos 1247 was launched from Site 16/2 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian SSR.

[3] A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 10:00 UTC on 19 February 1981.

[4] The United States Space Command assigned it the Satellite Catalog Number 12303.

It was observed to have completed the first burn in a 2-phase maneuver sequence on 20 October 1981, followed by debris generation.