# Cosmos 1942
**Wikidata**: [Q12907530](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907530)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1942

## Summary
Cosmos 1942 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched on May 12, 1988. Categorized as a Yantar-4K2 class satellite, it was utilized for spy operations and deployed via a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **COSPAR ID:** 1988-037A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 19115
- **Classification:** Instance of Yantar-4K2, a Soviet/Russian spy satellite.
- **Launch Date:** May 12, 1988
- **Launch Time:** 14:39:59
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4
- **Alternate Name:** Kosmos 1942
- **Entity Type:** Satellite (Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "19115"])

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1942?
A: Cosmos 1942 was a Yantar-4K2 class satellite, which functions as a Soviet/Russian spy satellite used for reconnaissance.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 1942 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on May 12, 1988, at 14:39:59 using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.

### Q: What are the international identifiers for Cosmos 1942?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1988-037A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 19115.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1942 serves as a specific historical data point within the extensive Soviet "Cosmos" program, which utilized a generic naming convention to obscure the military nature of reconnaissance missions. As an instance of the Yantar-4K2 platform, this entity represents the technological continuation of Soviet space-based surveillance capabilities during the late Cold War era. The details surrounding its launch—specifically the use of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle and the Plesetsk Cosmodrome—highlight the standard operational procedures for military satellite deployment of that period. The precise tracking data associated with this launch (SCN 19115) allows researchers and historians to accurately log the object within the broader history of artificial satellites, distinguishing it from thousands of other objects in Earth's orbit.

## Notable For
- Being a designated member of the Yantar-4K2 class of spy satellites.
- Launching from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary site for military launches.
- Precise launch timing recorded to the second (14:39:59).
- Inclusion in the international space catalog under SCN 19115.

## Body

### Classification and Designation
Cosmos 1942 is formally classified as an instance of the **Yantar-4K2** satellite model. The Yantar-4K2 is identified in related records as a Soviet and Russian spy satellite. The name "Cosmos 1942" follows the standard Soviet convention of numbering military satellites to mask their specific reconnaissance objectives. It also holds the alias **Kosmos 1942**.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was launched on **May 12, 1988**. The launch event took place at **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**. This specific site and the timing of the launch (14:39:59) are recorded as significant events in the satellite's operational history.

### Technical Specifications
The launch vehicle utilized to place Cosmos 1942 into orbit was the **Soyuz-U**, a variant of the Soyuz rocket design described as "Universal." The launch vehicle originated from the Soviet Union. The satellite itself is tracked under the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "19115"]`.

### Identification Data
The entity is tracked through several international identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1988-037A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 19115

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report