# Cosmos 1801
**Wikidata**: [Q12753458](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753458)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1801

## Summary
Cosmos 1801 (also known as Kosmos 1801) was a Soviet military communications satellite launched in 1986 as part of the Strela-1M constellation. It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite served as part of a low-orbit communication network for Soviet military and government use.

## Key Facts
- **COSPAR ID**: 1986-092H  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 17145  
- **Launch Date**: November 21, 1986, at 02:00:00 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Satellite Class**: Strela-1M  
- **Operator**: Soviet Union (later Russia)  
- **Purpose**: Military communications  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1801?  
A: Cosmos 1801 was a Strela-1M-class military communications satellite, part of a Soviet low-orbit network for secure government and military transmissions.  

### Q: When was Cosmos 1801 launched?  
A: It was launched on November 21, 1986, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1801?  
A: It provided encrypted communication services for Soviet military and government operations, ensuring secure data relay in low Earth orbit.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1801 was a critical component of the Soviet Union's military communications infrastructure during the Cold War. As part of the Strela-1M constellation, it enabled secure, low-latency messaging for defense and intelligence operations. These satellites were designed to be resilient against electronic warfare and interception, ensuring uninterrupted command and control capabilities. The Strela-1M series laid groundwork for later Russian military satellite networks, demonstrating the strategic importance of space-based communications in modern warfare.  

## Notable For  
- Part of the **Strela-1M** constellation, a key Soviet/Russian military communications system.  
- Launched aboard the **Kosmos-3M**, a widely used Soviet rocket with over 400 successful flights.  
- Operated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, one of the USSR's primary military launch sites.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: November 21, 1986  
- **Time**: 02:00:00 UTC  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M (11K65M)  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Strela-1M  
- **Function**: Secure military communications  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)  

### Operational Context  
- Deployed alongside other Strela-1M satellites to form a resilient network.  
- Supported encrypted voice and data transmission for Soviet armed forces.  
- Followed earlier Strela-1 satellites, with improved reliability and lifespan.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report