# Cosmos 1860
**Wikidata**: [Q12753487](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753487)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1860

## Summary
Cosmos 1860 is a Soviet US-A class nuclear-powered surveillance satellite launched on June 18, 1987. It was deployed as part of a series of radar ocean reconnaissance satellites designed to monitor naval activity from orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** June 18, 1987
- **Launch Time:** 21:33:00
- **Classification:** US-A (Upravlyaemy Sputnik Aktivny) series
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18122
- **COSPAR ID:** 1987-052A
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-2 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle)
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90
- **Country of Origin:** Soviet Union
- **Power Source:** Nuclear-powered (as a member of the US-A class)
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "18122"]

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Cosmos 1860?
A: Cosmos 1860 was a US-A class satellite, which was a Soviet series of nuclear-powered surveillance satellites. These spacecraft were primarily used for radar ocean reconnaissance to track naval vessels.

### Q: How was Cosmos 1860 launched into orbit?
A: The satellite was launched on June 18, 1987, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90. It was carried by a Tsyklon-2, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.

### Q: What are the technical identifiers for Cosmos 1860?
A: It is identified in the Satellite Catalog by the number 18122 and has the COSPAR ID 1987-052A. It is also known by the alternative spelling Kosmos 1860.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1860 represents a specific era of Soviet space technology focused on maritime surveillance during the late Cold War. As part of the US-A (Upravlyaemy Sputnik Aktivny) class, it utilized nuclear power to operate its active radar systems, a distinctive and technically complex approach to meeting the high energy requirements of orbital surveillance. Its launch via the Tsyklon-2 rocket highlights the Soviet Union's reliance on specific expendable launch vehicles for deploying heavy military assets. 

The satellite's presence in international catalogs (SCN 18122 and COSPAR 1987-052A) allows for the historical tracking of Soviet orbital assets and their operational timelines. Understanding Cosmos 1860 provides insight into the Soviet Union's strategic capabilities in monitoring global naval movements and the technical evolution of nuclear-powered orbital platforms. Its deployment from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90 marks it as part of a significant series of launches dedicated to maintaining a persistent radar presence over the world's oceans.

## Notable For
- **Nuclear Propulsion/Power:** As a US-A class satellite, it is part of a series known for using nuclear reactors to power radar equipment.
- **Specialized Launch Vehicle:** It was deployed using the Tsyklon-2, a dedicated Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.
- **Cold War Surveillance:** It served as a key component in the Soviet Union's radar ocean reconnaissance program.
- **Specific Launch Origin:** It was launched from the historically significant Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 1860, also referred to as Kosmos 1860, was a Soviet surveillance satellite launched in the late 1980s. It belongs to the US-A class, a series of satellites specifically designed for nuclear-powered radar ocean reconnaissance. These satellites were intended to provide the Soviet military with persistent tracking of naval forces.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on June 18, 1987, at exactly 21:33:00. The mission originated from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90. The delivery to orbit was performed by the Tsyklon-2, an expendable launch vehicle of Soviet and Ukrainian origin known for its reliability in deploying the US-A series.

### Technical Specifications
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18122
- **COSPAR ID:** 1987-052A
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "18122"]
- **Instance of:** US-A class satellite

### Classification and Series
The US-A class (Upravlyaemy Sputnik Aktivny) is a well-documented series of Soviet nuclear-powered surveillance satellites. Cosmos 1860 is one of several units in this series, which are characterized by their use of onboard nuclear reactors to power active radar systems. This allowed the satellites to detect targets on the ocean surface regardless of lighting or weather conditions. The satellite is currently tracked under the SCN 18122 and remains a subject of interest for historians of the Soviet space program.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report