# Cosmos 1636
**Wikidata**: [Q13566677](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566677)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1636

## Summary  
Cosmos 1636 (also written Kosmos 1636) is a Soviet‑era Strela‑1M communications satellite launched on 21 March 1985 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. Its COSPAR identifier is 1985‑023B and it is catalogued as satellite 15618.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 21 March 1985【source】  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Strela‑1M (a Soviet communications satellite series)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1985‑023B【source】  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 15618【source】  
- **Alternate name/alias:** Kosmos 1636【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch at 00:08 UTC on 21 March 1985 from Plesetsk Site 132【source】  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)【source】  
- **Wolfram Language entity code:** Entity["Satellite", "15618"]【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What type of satellite is Cosmos 1636?  
A: Cosmos 1636 is a Strela‑1M satellite, part of the Soviet communications satellite family.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1636 launched?  
A: It was launched on 21 March 1985 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, aboard a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.  

### Q: What is the COSPAR identifier for Cosmos 1636?  
A: The COSPAR ID for Cosmos 1636 is 1985‑023B.  

### Q: What launch vehicle carried Cosmos 1636 into orbit?  
A: The satellite was placed into orbit by a Kosmos‑3M rocket.  

### Q: Does Cosmos 1636 have any other names?  
A: Yes, it is also known by the alias “Kosmos 1636.”

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1636 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s extensive Strela‑1M satellite constellation, which provided secure, store‑and‑forward communications for military and governmental users during the Cold War. Launched from the strategically important Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the mission showcases the reliability of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, a workhorse of Soviet space operations. By contributing to the broader network of Strela satellites, Cosmos 1636 helped maintain real‑time data exchange across vast distances, supporting command‑and‑control capabilities and reinforcing the USSR’s orbital communications infrastructure. Understanding this satellite’s specifications and launch context offers insight into the technological and logistical achievements of the Soviet space program in the mid‑1980s, as well as the evolution of low‑Earth‑orbit communication systems that influence modern satellite networks.

## Notable For  
- First Strela‑1M satellite launched from Plesetsk Site 132 using a Kosmos‑3M rocket.  
- Holds the catalog number 15618 in the international satellite registry.  
- Part of the 1985 batch of Soviet communications satellites, identified by COSPAR 1985‑023B.  
- Demonstrates the continued use of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle for orbital insertions in the 1980s.  
- Listed in multiple language editions of Wikipedia, reflecting its recognition across Eastern European sources.

## Body  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 21 March 1985, 00:08 UTC.  
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, Russian SSR (then Soviet Union).  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket developed by the Soviet Union.  

### Satellite Classification  
- **Class:** Strela‑1M, a series of low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellites.  
- **Purpose:** Designed for store‑and‑forward data transmission, primarily for military use.  

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1985‑023B – the international designator assigned to the launch.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 15618 – the tracking number used by space agencies.  

### Naming and Language Presence  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 1636.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr).  

### Technical Reference  
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "15618"]` – used for computational queries about the satellite.  

### Context within Soviet Space Program  
- The Strela‑1M series formed part of the USSR’s robust orbital communications network, enabling secure data relay across the vast Soviet territory.  
- The Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, employed for this mission, was a reliable platform that supported numerous satellite deployments throughout the 1970s and 1980s.  

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*All information above is drawn directly from the provided source material.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report