# Cosmos 1056
**Wikidata**: [Q12907275](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907275)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1056

## Summary  
Cosmos 1056 was a Soviet Strela-1M military communications satellite launched on December 5, 1978, aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132. It was part of a network of satellites designed to support tactical communications for the Soviet Armed Forces.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: December 5, 1978, at 18:12:00 UTC.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1978-109F.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 11133.  
- **Class**: Strela-1M, a Soviet/Russian military communications satellite series.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket (Soviet Union).  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.  
- **Mission**: Provided tactical communications support for Soviet military operations.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Cosmos 1056 launched?  
A: Cosmos 1056 was launched on December 5, 1978, at 18:12:00 UTC.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1056?  
A: It served as a military communications satellite, part of the Strela-1M network supporting Soviet Armed Forces operations.  

### Q: What rocket launched Cosmos 1056?  
A: The satellite was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Soviet launch vehicle.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1056 was a critical component of the Soviet Union’s military communications infrastructure during the Cold War. As part of the Strela-1M satellite constellation, it enabled secure, tactical communication between ground forces and command structures, enhancing the Soviet military’s operational coordination. The Kosmos-3M rocket that launched it was a reliable and widely used launch vehicle, underscoring the Soviet space program’s focus on practical, low-cost solutions for deploying satellite networks. While individual Strela-1M satellites like Cosmos 1056 were not publicly high-profile, their collective role in maintaining military readiness was significant.  

## Notable For  
- **Part of a Satellite Constellation**: Operated as one unit within the broader Strela-1M network, ensuring continuous communications coverage.  
- **Cold War-Era Technology**: Represented Soviet advancements in military satellite systems during the 1970s.  
- **Kosmos-3M Launch**: Demonstrated the reliability of the Kosmos-3M rocket, which launched numerous satellites from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: December 5, 1978, at 18:12:00 UTC.  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key Soviet spaceport for military launches.  
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M (11K65M), a derivative of the R-14 Chusovaya intermediate-range ballistic missile.  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Strela-1M, a spin-stabilized satellite with a cylindrical bus design.  
- **Function**: Store-and-forward communications relay for tactical military use.  
- **Identifiers**:  
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1978-109F.  
  - **SCN**: 11133.  

### Mission Context  
- **Network Role**: Contributed to a low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation ensuring global communications coverage.  
- **Operational Lifespan**: Typical Strela-1M satellites had a design life of approximately 3 years.  
- **Historical Significance**: Reflects the Soviet emphasis on satellite-based military communications during the Cold War, paralleling U.S. systems like the Initial Defense Satellite Communication System (IDSCS).  

### Legacy  
- **Program Impact**: The Strela-1M series, including Cosmos 1056, laid groundwork for later Russian military satellite systems like Strela-3.  
- **Launch Heritage**: The Kosmos-3M rocket launched over 400 satellites, including numerous Strela-1M units, before its retirement in 2010.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report