# Cosmos 1473
**Wikidata**: [Q12907405](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907405)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1473

## Summary  
Cosmos 1473 (also written Kosmos 1473) is a Soviet‑launched Strela‑1M communications satellite. It was placed into orbit on 6 July 1983 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. Its international designator is 1983‑069A and it is catalogued as satellite 14171.

## Key Facts  
- **Satellite type:** Strela‑1M communications satellite (instance of the Strela‑1M class).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1983‑069A.  
- **Satellite catalog number (SCN):** 14171.  
- **Launch date:** 6 July 1983 (UTC).  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket (a Soviet‑era medium‑lift launch vehicle).  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch recorded at 00:31:00 on the launch day.  
- **Alternate name:** Kosmos 1473 (alias).  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr).  

## FAQs  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1473?  
**A:** Cosmos 1473 was built as a Strela‑1M communications satellite, part of the Soviet Union’s military communications network.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1473 launched?  
**A:** It launched on 6 July 1983 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome’s Site 132, using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.

### Q: How is Cosmos 1473 identified internationally?  
**A:** Its international designator is 1983‑069A and it is listed in the satellite catalog as 14171.

### Q: What launch vehicle placed Cosmos 1473 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was carried aloft by a Kosmos‑3M rocket, a work‑horse Soviet launch vehicle for medium‑mass payloads.

### Q: Are there other names for Cosmos 1473?  
**A:** Yes, it is also known by the alias “Kosmos 1473.”

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1473 represents a key element of the Soviet Union’s Strela series, a family of low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellites that provided secure, rapid data links for military and governmental users. By deploying a Strela‑1M platform, the mission contributed to the robustness of the USSR’s tactical communication infrastructure during the Cold War, enabling real‑time transmission of orders and intelligence across vast distances. The launch also showcases the reliability of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle and the strategic importance of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome as a northern launch site capable of inserting satellites into orbits optimal for high‑latitude coverage. Understanding Cosmos 1473 helps illustrate the evolution of Soviet space‑based communications and the broader context of orbital assets that underpinned military command and control networks of the era.

## Notable For  
- First‑generation Strela‑1M satellite launched from Plesetsk in 1983.  
- Utilised the Kosmos‑3M rocket, a workhorse of Soviet medium‑lift launches.  
- Assigned the catalog number 14171, making it traceable in global satellite tracking databases.  
- Part of the broader Strela communications constellation that supported Soviet military operations.  
- Recorded launch time of 00:31:00, indicating precise mission timing for orbital insertion.

## Body  

### Design and Classification  
- **Class:** Strela‑1M, a series of low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) communications satellites.  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M (as per Wikidata entry Q6272367).  

### Launch Details  
- **Date and Time:** 6 July 1983, launch event logged at 00:31:00.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, located in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket developed in the Soviet Union for medium payloads.  

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1983‑069A, the standard international identifier for space objects.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 14171, used by tracking agencies worldwide.  

### Operational Role  
- Served as a **military communications relay**, part of the Strela network that provided secure, line‑of‑sight data links for ground forces and command centers.  

### Documentation and References  
- All structured data (SCN, launch date, launch vehicle, etc.) sourced from Wikidata entry Q6272367 and associated references.  
- Language editions of the Wikipedia article exist in Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).  

### Technical Context  
- The **Kosmos‑3M** launch vehicle was widely employed for deploying satellites into LEO, offering a reliable platform for the Strela series.  
- **Plesetsk Cosmodrome** was a primary launch site for Soviet military payloads, chosen for its high‑latitude location which is optimal for polar and near‑polar orbits used by communication constellations.  

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*All statements above are derived exclusively from the provided source material.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report