# Cosmos 1491
**Wikidata**: [Q12753301](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753301)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1491

## Summary  
Cosmos 1491 (also written Kosmos 1491) is a GLONASS navigation satellite that was launched on 10 August 1983 from Baikonur Cosmodrome’s Site 200 aboard a Proton‑K carrier rocket. It is identified by the COSPAR ID 1983‑084B and the Satellite Catalog Number 14259.

## Key Facts  
- **Satellite type:** GLONASS navigation satellite (original GLONASS family).  
- **Launch date:** 10 August 1983 (UTC).  
- **Launch vehicle:** Proton‑K rocket equipped with a Blok DM‑2 upper stage (space tug).  
- **Launch site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 200, Kazakhstan.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1983‑084B.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 14259.  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 1491.  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch recorded at 18:24:26 UTC on the launch day.  
- **Related classes:** Part of the GLONASS satellite series and the Proton‑K carrier‑rocket family.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Cosmos 1491?  
A: Cosmos 1491 is a GLONASS navigation satellite launched in 1983, belonging to the original GLONASS satellite family that provides global positioning services.  

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 1491 launched?  
A: It was launched on 10 August 1983 from Baikonur Cosmodrome’s Site 200 using a Russian Proton‑K carrier rocket with a Blok DM‑2 upper stage.  

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Cosmos 1491?  
A: The satellite’s COSPAR ID is 1983‑084B and its Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) is 14259; it is also known by the alias Kosmos 1491.  

### Q: Which satellite system does Cosmos 1491 belong to?  
A: Cosmos 1491 is part of the GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) constellation, the Russian counterpart to GPS.  

### Q: What was the exact launch time of Cosmos 1491?  
A: The launch occurred at 18:24:26 UTC on 10 August 1983.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1491 represents a building block of the Soviet‑era GLONASS navigation system, which was designed to provide independent, worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing services for both civilian and military users. By contributing a functional orbital node to the GLONASS constellation, Cosmos 1491 helped ensure redundancy and coverage across the globe, enhancing the reliability of Russian satellite navigation capabilities. Its deployment aboard the proven Proton‑K launch vehicle underscores the integration of mature aerospace technologies to sustain a strategic satellite network. Understanding Cosmos 1491’s role offers insight into the evolution of global navigation satellite systems and the historical development of Russia’s space infrastructure.  

## Notable For  
- Being an original‑generation GLONASS satellite, part of the first series that established the Russian navigation constellation.  
- Launching on a Proton‑K rocket, one of the most frequently used heavy‑lift launchers in Soviet and Russian space history.  
- Utilising the Blok DM‑2 upper stage, a versatile space tug employed for many high‑orbit missions.  
- Carrying the COSPAR designation 1983‑084B, linking it to the international catalog of space objects.  
- Launching from Baikonur Site 200, a historic launch complex that has supported numerous pivotal missions.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 1491 (Kosmos 1491) is classified as an **instance of GLONASS**, the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System. It belongs to the **original family of GLONASS navigation satellites**, which were designed to deliver positioning data worldwide.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 10 August 1983, 18:24:26 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Proton‑K carrier rocket.  
- **Upper Stage (Space Tug):** Blok DM‑2.  
- **Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 200 (Kazakhstan).  
- **Significant Event:** Recorded as a “rocket launch” in mission logs.  

### Technical Identifiers  
| Identifier | Value |
|------------|-------|
| COSPAR ID | 1983‑084B |
| Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) | 14259 |
| Alias | Kosmos 1491 |
| Wikidata References | Q6272367 (source for most data) |
| Wolfram Language Entity Code | `Entity["Satellite", "14259"]` |

### Mission Role  
As a GLONASS satellite, Cosmos 1491’s primary function is to **transmit navigation signals** that enable users on Earth to determine precise location, velocity, and time. These signals are part of a constellation that ensures **global coverage** and **system redundancy**.  

### Related Systems  
- **GLONASS:** The broader satellite navigation system of which Cosmos 1491 is a component.  
- **Proton‑K:** The launch vehicle class used for many Soviet/Russian heavy‑payload missions, including numerous GLONASS satellites.  

### Legacy and Context  
Cosmos 1491’s launch contributed to the early expansion of the GLONASS network, laying groundwork for later generations of satellites that continue to serve both civilian navigation (e.g., smartphone location services) and military applications. Its successful deployment demonstrated the reliability of the Proton‑K/Blok DM‑2 launch combination for placing critical infrastructure into medium Earth orbit.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report