# Cosmos 2031
**Wikidata**: [Q12907557](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907557)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2031

## Summary
Cosmos 2031 (also known as Kosmos 2031) is a decommissioned Russian reconnaissance satellite of the Orlets class. It was launched on July 18, 1989, aboard a Soyuz-U rocket from Gagarin's Start. The satellite was part of a series of Soviet-era reconnaissance missions.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: July 18, 1989 (source: Q6272367)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1989-056A (source: Q200386)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U (source: Q6272367)  
- **Launch Site**: Gagarin's Start (source: Q6272367)  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 20136 (source: Q6272367)  
- **Class**: Orlets (decommissioned Russian reconnaissance satellites) (source: Q6272367)  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch at 12:10:00 UTC on July 18, 1989 (source: Q6272367)  
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 2031  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2031?  
A: Cosmos 2031 was a reconnaissance satellite belonging to the Orlets class, used by Russia for military or intelligence purposes.  

### Q: When was Cosmos 2031 launched?  
A: It was launched on July 18, 1989, from Gagarin's Start aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.  

### Q: Is Cosmos 2031 still operational?  
A: No, it is decommissioned, as are all satellites in the Orlets class.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 2031 represents a key part of Soviet and later Russian space-based reconnaissance efforts during the late Cold War era. As an Orlets-class satellite, it contributed to intelligence-gathering operations, which were critical for national security and strategic decision-making. The use of the Soyuz-U rocket, a reliable and widely deployed launch vehicle, underscores the technological capabilities of the Soviet space program. While decommissioned, its legacy persists in the evolution of modern reconnaissance satellites.  

## Notable For  
- Part of the Orlets class, a series of Russian reconnaissance satellites.  
- Launched from Gagarin's Start, a historic Soviet/Russian launch site.  
- Utilized the Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse of Soviet space missions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: July 18, 1989  
- **Time**: 12:10:00 UTC  
- **Site**: Gagarin's Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome)  
- **Vehicle**: Soyuz-U  

### Satellite Classification  
- **Class**: Orlets  
- **Purpose**: Reconnaissance (military/intelligence)  
- **Status**: Decommissioned  

### Technical Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1989-056A  
- **SCN**: 20136  
- **Wolfram Entity Code**: Entity["Satellite", "20136"]  

### Related Entities  
- **Orlets Class**: Decommissioned Russian reconnaissance satellites.  
- **Soyuz-U**: The launch vehicle used, a variant of the Soyuz rocket family.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report