# Cosmos 1908
**Wikidata**: [Q12753511](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753511)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1908

## Summary
Cosmos 1908 was a Soviet signals intelligence satellite launched on January 6, 1988. Designated as part of the Tselina-D class of satellites, it was deployed into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **COSPAR ID:** 1988-001A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 18748
- **Instance of:** Tselina-D (Soviet signals intelligence satellite)
- **Launch Date:** January 6, 1988
- **Launch Time:** 07:41:00 UTC
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3
- **Alternative Name:** Kosmos 1908
- **Entity Type:** Satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1908?
A: Cosmos 1908 was a Tselina-D class satellite, which is a model of Soviet signals intelligence satellite used for gathering electronic information.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1908 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on January 6, 1988, at 07:41:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 1908?
A: Cosmos 1908 was launched aboard a Tsyklon-3, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1908 serves as a specific historical data point within the broader context of the Soviet Union's space-based reconnaissance capabilities during the late Cold War. As a unit of the **Tselina-D** class, it represents the technological infrastructure dedicated to signals intelligence (SIGINT), allowing for the monitoring and analysis of electronic signals from orbit. The mission illustrates the operational reliance on the **Tsyklon-3** expendable launch vehicle during this era to place specialized military payloads into orbit. Furthermore, its launch from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32** highlights the specific ground infrastructure utilized for these types of defense-oriented space missions. The satellite's identification as **1988-001A** indicates it was the first orbital launch of that year globally, marking the beginning of the 1988 space calendar.

## Notable For
- **Classification:** Distinguished as a Tselina-D satellite, a specialized platform for Soviet signals intelligence.
- **Timeline:** Identified as the first orbital launch of 1988 (COSPAR ID 1988-001A).
- **Infrastructure:** Utilized Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32, a key launch complex for military satellites.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Deployed via the Tsyklon-3 rocket, a prominent Soviet/Ukrainian launcher for various satellite constellations.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 1908, alternatively known as Kosmos 1908, was a Soviet spacecraft launched on **January 6, 1988**. It operated under the Kosmos designation, a standard practice used by the Soviet Union to categorize a wide array of military and scientific satellites.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite is classified as an **instance of Tselina-D**, a model of Soviet signals intelligence satellite. This class of spacecraft was designed to detect and locate sources of radio emissions. Key identifiers for the object include:
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18748
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "18748"]`

### Launch Details
The deployment of Cosmos 1908 was a precise logistical operation utilizing established Soviet space infrastructure.
- **Vehicle:** The satellite was propelled into space by a **Tsyklon-3**, a three-stage expendable launch vehicle developed by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau.
- **Location:** Lift-off occurred at **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**, a launch complex located in northwestern Russia.
- **Timing:** The launch event took place at **07:41:00** UTC on the specified date.

### Global Context
The assignment of the COSPAR ID **1988-001A** indicates that this was the first successful orbital launch recorded worldwide in the year 1988.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report