# Cosmos 1196
**Wikidata**: [Q12753152](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753152)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1196

## Summary
Cosmos 1196 (also known as Kosmos 1196) is a Soviet military communications satellite launched in 1980 as part of the Strela-1M constellation. It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to support secure military communications.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** July 9, 1980, at 00:42:00 UTC ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1980-058E ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200386))  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M rocket ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 11879 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Class:** Strela-1M military communications satellite ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Operator:** Soviet Union (later Russia)  
- **Wikipedia Coverage:** Available in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1196?  
A: Cosmos 1196 was a military communications satellite designed to facilitate secure Soviet military communications as part of the Strela-1M network.  

### Q: Where was Cosmos 1196 launched from?  
A: It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a major Soviet/Russian spaceport used for military and scientific missions.  

### Q: What rocket carried Cosmos 1196 into orbit?  
A: It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket, a reliable Soviet launch vehicle primarily used for low-Earth orbit missions.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1196 played a critical role in the Soviet Union's military communications infrastructure during the Cold War. As part of the Strela-1M constellation, it ensured secure and reliable data transmission for military operations, enhancing command and control capabilities. Its launch underscored the USSR's focus on maintaining a robust satellite network for national security. While not groundbreaking technologically, satellites like Cosmos 1196 were essential for maintaining strategic parity with NATO forces. Today, it serves as a historical example of Cold War-era space militarization.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Role:** Part of the Strela-1M constellation, dedicated to secure Soviet military communications.  
- **Reliable Deployment:** Launched via the proven Kosmos-3M rocket, which had a high success rate.  
- **Cold War Context:** Reflects the USSR's emphasis on space-based military infrastructure during geopolitical tensions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** July 9, 1980, at 00:42:00 UTC ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367)).  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a launch complex frequently used for military payloads.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Class:** Strela-1M, a Soviet low-Earth orbit military communications satellite.  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M, a two-stage rocket developed by the Soviet Union.  

### Operational Context  
- **Mission:** Facilitated encrypted military communications for Soviet forces.  
- **Constellation Role:** One of multiple Strela-1M satellites deployed to ensure global coverage.  

### Legacy  
- **Historical Significance:** Contributed to the USSR's Cold War-era space dominance strategy.  
- **Documentation:** Recorded in satellite catalogs (SCN 11879) and referenced in multilingual Wikipedia articles.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report