# APEX-MAIN
**Wikidata**: [Q1541118](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1541118)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apex-main

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **APEX-MAIN** based on the provided source material:

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## Summary  
APEX-MAIN (also known as Intercosmos 25) is an Earth observation satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1991. It was designed to monitor Earth from orbit and was carried into space by a Tsyklon-3 rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts  
- **Official name**: APEX-MAIN (aliases: Intercosmos 25)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-086A  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1991-086A  
- **Launch date**: December 18, 1991  
- **Launch site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32  
- **Launch vehicle**: Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket)  
- **Satellite catalog number (SCN)**: 21819  
- **Class**: Earth observation satellite  
- **Significant event**: Rocket launch at 03:54 UTC on December 18, 1991  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was APEX-MAIN's primary purpose?  
A: APEX-MAIN was an Earth observation satellite, designed to monitor and collect data about Earth's surface from orbit.  

### Q: Where was APEX-MAIN launched from?  
A: It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 in Russia using a Tsyklon-3 rocket.  

### Q: Is APEX-MAIN still operational?  
A: The source material does not specify its operational status, but it was launched in 1991, suggesting it may no longer be active.  

## Why It Matters  
APEX-MAIN contributed to the Soviet Union's Earth observation capabilities during a period of significant geopolitical change (the dissolution of the USSR occurred shortly after its launch). As part of the Intercosmos program, it likely supported scientific and environmental monitoring, such as tracking weather patterns, land use, or natural disasters. While not as well-documented as modern satellites, its data may have informed early climate or geological studies.  

## Notable For  
- One of the last Soviet-era satellites launched before the USSR's dissolution (December 1991).  
- Part of the Intercosmos program, which involved international collaboration in space research.  
- Launched using the Tsyklon-3, a workhorse of Soviet and Ukrainian space missions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: December 18, 1991  
- **Time**: 03:54 UTC  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 (a major Soviet/Russian launch facility).  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Launch vehicle**: Tsyklon-3, a three-stage rocket used for over 120 launches between 1977 and 2009.  
- **Catalog number**: 21819 (assigned by the U.S. Space Command's satellite catalog).  

### Mission Context  
- **Program**: Likely part of the Intercosmos initiative, which included satellites for scientific and Earth observation purposes.  
- **Legacy**: Contributed to the Soviet Union's remote sensing capabilities during its final years.  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication. Let me know if you'd like any refinements.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report