# Cosmos 1388
**Wikidata**: [Q12907377](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907377)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1388

## Summary
Cosmos 1388 is a Soviet military communications satellite launched on July 21, 1982, as part of the Strela-1M class. It was deployed from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket and identified by COSPAR ID 1982-073A.

## Key Facts
- Cosmos 1388 is an instance of the Strela-1M satellite class.
- It was launched on July 21, 1982, at 06:31:00 UTC.
- The launch occurred from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in the Soviet Union.
- The launch vehicle was a Kosmos-3M rocket.
- Its COSPAR identifier is 1982-073A.
- Its Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) is 13375.
- It has 3 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian).
- Cataloged in Wolfram Language as Entity["Satellite", "13375"].

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of Cosmos 1388?
A: It served as a military communications satellite within the Soviet Strela-1M constellation, designed for secure store-and-forward messaging.

### Q: From which location was Cosmos 1388 launched?
A: It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, the primary Soviet cosmodrome for polar orbit missions.

### Q: What rocket propelled Cosmos 1388 into orbit?
A: It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M, a Soviet two-stage liquid-fueled carrier rocket.

### Q: How is Cosmos 1388 uniquely identified in global records?
A: It bears the COSPAR ID 1982-073A and the Satellite Catalog Number 13375 for precise tracking.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1388 exemplifies Soviet Cold War-era advancements in military satellite communications. As part of the Strela-1M system, it enabled secure, low-bandwidth messaging for command-and-control operations, addressing critical defense needs during heightened geopolitical tensions. Its deployment from Plesetsk—key for polar orbits—demonstrates strategic diversification of Soviet launch capabilities. Understanding such missions illuminates the technological evolution of military space systems and their role in superpower rivalries, providing context for modern military communications infrastructure.

## Notable For
- Being one of the Strela-1M satellites, a class exclusively serving Soviet military communications requirements.
- Launching from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, the site responsible for most Soviet military satellite deployments.
- Utilizing the Kosmos-3M rocket, known for its reliability in delivering medium-weight payloads to orbit.
- Operating during the peak of Cold War tensions (1982), reflecting heightened Soviet military satellite activity.
- Having multilingual documentation (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian), indicating regional relevance in Soviet space records.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Cosmos 1388 was launched on July 21, 1982, at 06:31:00 UTC. The launch was a significant military event, classified under the Soviet "Kosmos" satellite program. As a Strela-1M class satellite, it was designed for secure, low-data-rate communications between Soviet military assets. The mission occurred during a critical period in Cold War satellite development.

### Technical Attributes
- **Class**: Strela-1M military communications satellite
- **COSPAR ID**: 1982-073A
- **SCN**: 13375
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 (Soviet Union)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket
- **Wikipedia Availability**: mk, sh, sr languages
- **Wolfram Reference**: Entity["Satellite", "13375"]

### Historical Context
The satellite was part of the broader Strela constellation, which began operations in the 1960s. Its launch from Plesetsk—a cosmodrome primarily used for military satellites—aligns with Soviet efforts to maintain strategic communications dominance. The mission underscores the technological priorities of the Soviet space program during the early 1980s, focusing on autonomous military messaging systems independent of terrestrial infrastructure.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report