# Cosmos 1955
**Wikidata**: [Q12753538](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753538)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1955

## Summary
Cosmos 1955 was a Soviet Yantar-4K2 class spy satellite launched on June 22, 1988. It was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Gagarin's Start launch site. The spacecraft is identified by the international designation 1988-054A and the satellite catalog number 19258.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 1955 is an instance of the Yantar-4K2, a class of Soviet/Russian spy satellites.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on June 22, 1988.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz design.
*   **Launch Site:** The mission launched from Gagarin's Start.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1988-054A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the number 19258.
*   **Significant Event:** The rocket launch occurred precisely at 13:00:00 on June 22, 1988.
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as Kosmos 1955.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1955?
A: Cosmos 1955 was a Yantar-4K2 class satellite, which functions as a Soviet/Russian spy satellite used for reconnaissance.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 1955 launched?
A: It was launched on June 22, 1988, at 13:00:00, using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Gagarin's Start launch facility.

### Q: What are the international identifiers for Cosmos 1955?
A: The satellite carries the COSPAR ID 1988-054A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 19258.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1955 serves as a specific example of the Soviet Union's extensive reconnaissance capabilities during the late Cold War era. As a member of the Yantar-4K2 class, it represents the technological evolution of Soviet optical surveillance, designed to gather intelligence from orbit. The mission underscores the reliability and frequency of the Soyuz-U rocket, which served as a workhorse for the Soviet space program. By utilizing the historic Gagarin's Start pad—the same site used for the first human spaceflight—the mission highlights the continued strategic importance of established infrastructure for military launches. Cosmos 1955 contributes to the broader historical record of the Kosmos program, a naming convention used to obfuscate the true military nature of hundreds of Soviet satellites.

## Notable For
*   **Reconnaissance Classification:** It is a confirmed Yantar-4K2 satellite, a distinct class of Soviet/Russian spy craft.
*   **Precise Launch Data:** The mission is recorded with a precise launch time of 13:00:00.
*   **Historic Launch Site:** It utilized Gagarin's Start, one of the most historically significant launch pads in space exploration history.
*   **Soyuz-U Deployment:** It demonstrates the operational use of the Soyuz-U universal rocket variant for military payloads.

## Body
### Mission Classification and Design
Cosmos 1955 is formally classified as an instance of the **Yantar-4K2**, a type of Soviet and Russian spy satellite. In the context of space cataloging, it is also referred to by the alias **Kosmos 1955**. The "Kosmos" designation was standard Soviet practice for military satellites, allowing them to be discreetly logged within the broader sequence of scientific and civilian flights.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **June 22, 1988**. The mission began at the **Gagarin's Start** launch complex, a site famously associated with Vostok 1. The launch vehicle used was the **Soyuz-U**, a variant described as the "Universal" version of the Soyuz rocket design. The specific significant event of the rocket launch is timestamped at **13:00:00**.

### Technical Identifiers
For tracking and international recognition, Cosmos 1955 is assigned specific codes:
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 19258
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1988-054A
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "19258"]

The entry is supported by data found in multiple Wikipedia language editions, including Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report