# Cosmos 2041
**Wikidata**: [Q12753581](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753581)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2041

## Summary
Cosmos 2041 was a Soviet military communications satellite launched on September 14, 1989. Designated as part of the Strela-3 class of satellites, it was deployed into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 2041 is an instance of the **Strela-3** class, a type of military communications satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **September 14, 1989**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by a **Tsyklon-3** rocket (a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle).
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32** in Russia.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international designator is **1989-074D**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20235.
*   **Launch Event Specifics:** The significant launch event occurred at **09:49:06** UTC on September 14, 1989.
*   **Aliases:** It is also known by the alias **Kosmos 2041**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2041?
A: Cosmos 2041 was a Strela-3 satellite, which is a class of military communications satellite. It was part of the Soviet (and later Ukrainian) space program.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2041 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on September 14, 1989, at 09:49:06 UTC. It lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2041?
A: A Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle was used to propel Cosmos 2041 into orbit.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2041 serves as a historical example of late-Cold War space infrastructure, specifically illustrating the operational capabilities of the Soviet military-industrial complex in 1989. As a unit of the Strela-3 class, this satellite played a role in maintaining secure military communications, a critical component of national defense strategy during that era. The mission highlights the reliance on the Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle, a product of Soviet and Ukrainian engineering, which was a workhorse for deploying such constellations.

The specific details surrounding Cosmos 2041—such as its precise launch time and site—provide valuable data for space historians and trackers analyzing the traffic and utilization of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Furthermore, the satellite's dual naming convention (Cosmos/Kosmos) and its cataloging in international databases (COSPAR ID 1989-074D) reflect the transparency protocols eventually adopted in space flight tracking. It represents a tangible link to the technological lineage of the Strela satellite family, which has seen continued evolution in Eastern European space capabilities.

## Notable For
*   **Military Function:** Being a distinct unit within the Strela-3 military communications satellite constellation.
*   **Launch Precision:** Having a precisely recorded launch time of 09:49:06 UTC.
*   **Launch Platform:** Utilization of the Tsyklon-3 rocket, a notable Soviet/Ukrainian launch system.
*   **Site Specificity:** Launching from Site 32 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary hub for military space launches.
*   **Data Tracking:** Possession of a specific Wolfram Language entity code (`Entity["Satellite", "20235"]`), indicating its inclusion in computational knowledge bases.

## Body
### Classification and Identity
Cosmos 2041 is officially classified as a **Strela-3** satellite. The Strela-3 system is characterized as a type of Ukrainian military communications satellite platform. The "Cosmos" designation is a cover name used by the Soviet Union for its military satellites; the entity also holds the alias "Kosmos 2041." In international catalogs, it is identified by the **COSPAR ID 1989-074D** and the **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 20235**.

### Mission Launch Profile
The satellite was successfully launched on **September 14, 1989**. The mission was executed from the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 32**. The launch vehicle responsible for placing the satellite into orbit was the **Tsyklon-3**, an expendable launch system developed jointly by the Soviet and Ukrainian space programs.

The launch event is documented with high precision, recorded at **09:49:06** UTC on the date of launch. This mission contributed to the constellation of Strela-3 satellites, enhancing the communication capabilities available to military forces at the time.

### Technical and Academic References
*   **Wolfram Language:** The satellite is encoded as `Entity["Satellite", "20235"]`.
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** The entity has sitelinks in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr) Wikipedia editions.
*   **Wikidata Properties:** The data regarding its classification, launch date, and vehicle is supported by references to Wikidata property P248 and identifiers such as Q6272367 and Q200386.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report