# Cosmos 2040
**Wikidata**: [Q12753582](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753582)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2040

## Summary
Cosmos 2040 was a Soviet military communications satellite launched on September 14, 1989. Designated as part of the Strela-3 class of satellites, it was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. It is identified by the international COSPAR ID 1989-074C.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a Strela-3 satellite (Ukrainian military communications satellite).
- **Launch Date:** September 14, 1989.
- **Launch Time:** 09:49:06.
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle).
- **COSPAR ID:** 1989-074C.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20234.
- **Alternate Name:** Kosmos 2040.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2040?
A: Cosmos 2040 was a Strela-3 class satellite, which is a type of military communications satellite originally developed in the Soviet Union/Ukraine.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 2040 launched?
A: It was launched on September 14, 1989, at 09:49:06 UTC, using a Tsyklon-3 rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.

### Q: What are the specific identifiers for Cosmos 2040?
A: The satellite holds the COSPAR ID 1989-074C and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 20234. It also has a Wolfram Language entity code of Entity["Satellite", "20234"].

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2040 serves as a historical example of late-Cold War space infrastructure, specifically representing the Strela-3 series of military communications satellites. These satellites were crucial for maintaining secure and robust communications for military operations, utilizing the specialized Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle for deployment. The launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome highlights the site's strategic importance to the Soviet space program. By cataloging specific details such as the precise launch time (09:49:06) and site (Site 32), this entry contributes to the precise historical record of orbital launches and the tracking of space objects (SCN 20234).

## Notable For
- Being a specific operational unit of the **Strela-3** military communications constellation.
- Launching aboard the **Tsyklon-3**, a notable Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch system.
- Precise tracking data, including a specific launch time accurate to the second.
- Being cataloged in Wolfram Language entities under the code `Entity["Satellite", "20234"]`.

## Body
### Classification and Function
Cosmos 2040 is formally classified as an instance of the **Strela-3** class. The Strela-3 system is characterized as a type of Ukrainian military communications satellite. As part of this constellation, Cosmos 2040 was designed to facilitate military communications, although specific mission outcomes and operational details are derived from its classification.

### Mission Profile
The satellite was launched as part of a "rocket launch" event on **September 14, 1989**. The specific point in time for the launch event was recorded at **09:49:06**. The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**, a significant launch complex used for various Soviet military and scientific missions.

### Launch Vehicle
The delivery of Cosmos 2040 into orbit was facilitated by the **Tsyklon-3** launch vehicle. The Tsyklon-3 is an expendable launch system that was utilized by both Soviet and Ukrainian space programs. This vehicle was a common choice for deploying satellite constellations like Strela-3 during this era.

### Identifiers and Data
To track and identify the satellite within global databases, Cosmos 2040 is associated with several unique identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1989-074C
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20234
- **Wolfram Language Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "20234"]`

The entity has sitelinks in the Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr) languages on Wikipedia.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report