# Cosmos 1933
**Wikidata**: [Q12907527](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907527)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1933

## Summary

Cosmos 1933 is a Soviet signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite of the Tselina-D class, launched on March 15, 1988, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 aboard a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. It operates under the international designator 1988-020A and carries the satellite catalog number 18958.

## Key Facts

- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18958
- **International Designator (COSPAR ID):** 1988-020A
- **Common Alias:** Kosmos 1933
- **Classification:** Tselina-D signals intelligence satellite
- **Launch Date:** March 15, 1988
- **Launch Time:** 18:50:00 UTC
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle)
- **Wikipedia Language Editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbian (sh), Serbian (sr)
- **Sitelink Count:** 3
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "18958"]

## FAQs

**What type of satellite is Cosmos 1933?**

Cosmos 1933 is a Tselina-D class satellite, which is a Soviet signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite designed to intercept and collect electronic communications and radar signals from ground-based and airborne sources.

**When was Cosmos 1933 launched?**

Cosmos 1933 was launched on March 15, 1988, at 18:50:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 in the Soviet Union.

**What launch vehicle carried Cosmos 1933 into orbit?**

Cosmos 1933 was launched aboard a Tsyklon-3 rocket, which is a Soviet and Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle designed for placing payloads into sun-synchronous and low Earth orbits.

**Where was Cosmos 1933 launched from?**

The satellite was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32, one of the primary Soviet/Russian space launch facilities located in the northwestern part of Russia.

**What is the Tselina-D satellite program?**

The Tselina-D is a model of Soviet signals intelligence satellite that formed part of a broader network of military reconnaissance satellites designed to gather electronic intelligence for the Soviet Union's defense and strategic purposes.

## Why It Matters

Cosmos 1933 represents a specific instance of Soviet military space technology during the late 1980s, a period when the Soviet Union maintained an extensive signals intelligence satellite constellation to support its strategic defense capabilities. As part of the Tselina-D program, this satellite contributed to the Soviet Union's ability to monitor electronic communications and radar emissions globally, which was critical for national security during the Cold War era. The Tselina-D series satellites, including Cosmos 1933, formed the backbone of Soviet SIGINT collection from space, complementing other intelligence-gathering methods. Understanding these historical satellites provides insight into the technological capabilities and strategic priorities of the Soviet space program during the late Cold War period.

## Notable For

- Part of the Soviet Tselina-D signals intelligence satellite constellation
- Launched during the peak of Soviet space-based SIGINT operations
- Represents the third iteration of the Tselina-D program with sitelink_count of 3
- One of the satellites in the Kosmos series with documented Wikipedia coverage in multiple Slavic languages (Macedonian, Serbian)

## Body

### Classification and Purpose

Cosmos 1933 is classified as a Tselina-D signals intelligence satellite. The Tselina-D program was specifically designed for Soviet signals intelligence (SIGINT) operations, which involved the interception of electronic communications, radar signals, and other electromagnetic emissions from ground-based and airborne sources. These satellites played a crucial role in the Soviet military's intelligence-gathering infrastructure, providing strategic information about foreign military communications and radar systems.

### Launch Details

The satellite was launched on March 15, 1988, at precisely 18:50:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32, located in the Arkhangelsk Oblast region of northwestern Russia. Plesetsk Cosmodrome was the primary Soviet launch facility for polar-orbiting satellites, including military reconnaissance spacecraft. The launch vehicle used was the Tsyklon-3, a Soviet expendable launch vehicle developed specifically for placing satellites into sun-synchronous and low Earth orbits. The Tsyklon-3 was a reliable workhorse of the Soviet space program, capable of delivering payloads of approximately 4,000 kg to low Earth orbit.

### Orbital Parameters

Cosmos 1933 was assigned the international designator 1988-020A, following the convention where the year of launch (1988), the launch sequence number (020), and the piece identifier (A) are combined. The satellite carries the Satellite Catalog Number 18958, which is used by space tracking organizations to identify and track the object in orbit.

### Related Programs and Technology

The Tselina-D satellite series was developed as part of the broader Soviet military space program. The Tselina-D satellites were designed to operate in low Earth orbit, typically at altitudes between 500 and 1,000 kilometers, allowing them to intercept signals from a wide geographic area. These satellites were equipped with sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment capable of detecting and recording various types of radio communications and radar emissions.

The Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle, which carried Cosmos 1933 into orbit, was a three-stage rocket derived from the R-14 intercontinental ballistic missile. It was manufactured primarily in Ukraine and remained in service from the 1970s through the 1990s. The Tsyklon-3 was particularly well-suited for launching satellites into sun-synchronous orbits, which are useful for Earth observation and reconnaissance satellites because they pass over any given point on the Earth's surface at the same local time each day, providing consistent lighting conditions.

### Historical Context

Cosmos 1933 was launched in 1988, during the final years of the Soviet Union. At this time, the Soviet space program was still actively maintaining its military satellite constellations, including the Tselina-D SIGINT system. The satellite represents a specific data point in the historical record of Soviet military space activities, demonstrating the continued investment in signals intelligence capabilities even as political changes were occurring within the Soviet Union.

### Documentation and References

The satellite has documented coverage in multiple language editions of Wikipedia, specifically the Macedonian (mk), Serbian (sh), and Serbian (sr) editions, indicating some level of documented historical information available in Slavic language sources. The satelink count of 3 reflects the number of Wikipedia language editions that contain articles about this specific satellite. The Wolfram Language includes an entity reference for this satellite under the code Entity["Satellite", "18958"], enabling computational access to information about the object.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report