# Cosmos 1972
**Wikidata**: [Q12753546](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753546)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1972

## Summary
Cosmos 1972 is a GLONASS navigation satellite launched on September 16, 1988, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 using a Proton-K rocket. It is part of the original GLONASS satellite family and was designated as Kosmos 1972, with the COSPAR ID 1988-085C.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: GLONASS navigation satellite
- **Launch Date**: September 16, 1988
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200
- **COSPAR ID**: 1988-085C
- **Space Tug**: Blok DM-2
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 19503
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 1972
- **Wikipedia Availability**: Available in Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1972?
A: Cosmos 1972 was a GLONASS navigation satellite, part of the Soviet Union's satellite-based navigation system, designed to provide positioning, navigation, and timing services.

### Q: Which rocket launched Cosmos 1972?
A: The satellite was launched using a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 on September 16, 1988.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID of Cosmos 1972?
A: The COSPAR ID for Cosmos 1972 is 1988-085C.

### Q: What is the SCN (Satellite Catalog Number) of Cosmos 1972?
A: The SCN for Cosmos 1972 is 19503.

### Q: What is the significance of the Blok DM-2 in relation to Cosmos 1972?
A: The Blok DM-2 was the space tug used to deploy Cosmos 1972 into its operational orbit.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1972 is significant as part of the GLONASS satellite constellation, which was developed by the Soviet Union to provide global navigation services. GLONASS was an alternative to the U.S. GPS system, offering similar capabilities for positioning, navigation, and timing. The satellite's successful deployment contributed to the expansion of the GLONASS network, enhancing the Soviet Union's strategic and civilian navigation capabilities. While GLONASS eventually faced challenges and competition from GPS, it played a crucial role in the early development of satellite-based navigation systems.

## Notable For
- **Part of the GLONASS constellation**: One of the original satellites in the Soviet Union's satellite navigation system.
- **Launched by Proton-K**: Deployed using the powerful Proton-K rocket, a key Soviet-era launch vehicle.
- **Operated by the Soviet Union**: Contributed to the Soviet Union's efforts in space-based navigation and positioning.
- **Blok DM-2 space tug**: Utilized the Blok DM-2 upper stage for orbital insertion.
- **COSPAR and SCN identifiers**: Assigned unique identifiers for tracking and cataloging in space systems.

## Body
### Overview
Cosmos 1972 is a GLONASS satellite launched on September 16, 1988, as part of the Soviet Union's satellite navigation network. It was deployed using a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.

### Technical Specifications
- **COSPAR ID**: 1988-085C
- **SCN**: 19503
- **Space Tug**: Blok DM-2
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K

### Launch Details
- **Launch Date**: September 16, 1988
- **Launch Time**: 02:00:47 UTC
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200

### Classification
- **Type**: GLONASS navigation satellite
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 1972

### Wikipedia Availability
- Available in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

### References
- **Source**: Q6272367 (Wikidata reference)
- **COSPAR ID Source**: Q200386 (International Astronautical Federation)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report