# Cosmos 1985
**Wikidata**: [Q12753554](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753554)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1985

## Summary  
Kosmos 1985 (also written Cosmos 1985) is a Soviet‑Russian military satellite of the Kosmos series that was launched on 23 December 1988 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Tsyklon‑3 launch vehicle. Its international designator is 1988‑113A and it is catalogued as satellite 19720.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 23 December 1988 (07:20 UTC)【source】.  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 32【source】.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Tsyklon‑3 expendable rocket【source】.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1988‑113A【source】.  
- **Satellite catalog number (SCN):** 19720【source】.  
- **Instance of:** Kosmos series of Soviet/Russian military satellites【source】.  
- **Alias:** Kosmos 1985 (also spelled Cosmos 1985)【source】.  
- **Related classes:** Part of the broader Kosmos satellite class and launched by the Tsyklon‑3 class launch vehicle【source】.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)【source】.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Kosmos 1985?  
A: Kosmos 1985 is a Soviet‑Russian military satellite belonging to the Kosmos series, launched on 23 December 1988 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Tsyklon‑3 rocket.  

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 1985 launched?  
A: It lifted off at 07:20 UTC on 23 December 1988 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome’s Site 32.  

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Kosmos 1985?  
A: The satellite was launched on a Tsyklon‑3 expendable launch vehicle, a common Soviet/Ukrainian rocket for military payloads.  

### Q: How is Kosmos 1985 identified internationally?  
A: Its COSPAR (International Designator) is 1988‑113A and it is catalogued in the U.S. Space Command database as satellite 19720.  

### Q: Is Kosmos 1985 listed in multiple Wikipedia languages?  
A: Yes, entries exist in Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, and Serbian Wikipedia editions.  

## Why It Matters  
Kosmos 1985 exemplifies the Cold‑War era practice of deploying large numbers of military satellites under the generic “Kosmos” label, a strategy that obscured individual mission purposes while maintaining a robust orbital presence. Launched from the strategically important Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the satellite’s deployment via the reliable Tsyklon‑3 vehicle demonstrates the Soviet Union’s capacity for routine, high‑frequency access to low‑Earth orbit for defense‑related payloads. Understanding Kosmos 1985 helps historians and analysts trace the evolution of Soviet space‑based reconnaissance and communications capabilities, providing context for today’s Russian satellite architecture and the legacy of the Kosmos series in shaping modern military space operations.  

## Notable For  
- First (and only) recorded launch of a Kosmos‑series satellite on 23 December 1988 using a Tsyklon‑3 from Plesetsk Site 32.  
- Holds the catalog number 19720, linking it to the global space‑object tracking system.  
- Part of a prolific Soviet satellite program that concealed specific mission details behind the generic “Kosmos” designation.  
- Demonstrates the continued use of the Tsyklon‑3 launch vehicle for military payloads late in the 1980s.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Kosmos 1985 (also known as Cosmos 1985) is classified as an instance of the **Kosmos** satellite series, a broad family of Soviet and Russian military spacecraft. The satellite’s primary purpose is not publicly disclosed, consistent with the series’ practice of aggregating diverse defense missions under a single naming convention.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 23 December 1988, 07:20 UTC.  
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 32, a key northern launch complex used for military and polar‑orbiting missions.  
- **Vehicle:** Tsyklon‑3, an expendable launch vehicle developed jointly by Soviet and Ukrainian design bureaus, known for its reliability in delivering payloads to low‑Earth orbit.  

### Identification  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1988‑113A, the standard international identifier for space objects.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 19720, as recorded by the U.S. Space Command’s satellite catalog.  
- **Aliases:** Listed as “Kosmos 1985” in multiple language editions of Wikipedia (Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian).  

### Technical Context  
The Tsyklon‑3 launch vehicle, derived from the R‑7 family, provided a payload capacity of roughly 3,500 kg to low‑Earth orbit, making it suitable for a range of military satellites. While specific dimensions and onboard instruments of Kosmos 1985 are not disclosed, its inclusion in the Kosmos series suggests a role in communications, navigation, or Earth‑observation functions supporting Soviet defense infrastructure.  

### Related Entities  
- **Kosmos Series:** Over 2,500 satellites launched under the Kosmos designation, spanning scientific, navigation, and military applications.  
- **Tsyklon‑3:** A workhorse launch vehicle used for numerous Kosmos missions, retired in the early 2000s after a long service record.  

### Legacy  
Kosmos 1985 contributes to the historical record of Soviet space operations during the late Cold War period. Its launch demonstrates the continued reliance on established launch sites and vehicles to sustain a persistent orbital presence, a practice that informs contemporary Russian space policy and the broader understanding of military satellite deployment strategies.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report