# Cosmos 2042
**Wikidata**: [Q12753583](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753583)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2042

## Summary
Cosmos 2042 is a Strela-3 class military communications satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1989. It was deployed using a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to serve as part of a military communications network.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Strela-3 military communications satellite
- **Launch Date:** September 14, 1989
- **Launch Time:** 09:49:06
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket)
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20236
- **COSPAR ID:** 1989-074E
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "20236"]
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 2042

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is Cosmos 2042?
A: Cosmos 2042 is a Strela-3 class satellite, which is a specific type of military communications satellite. It was developed as part of a Soviet/Ukrainian satellite program for secure data transmission.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2042 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on September 14, 1989, at 09:49:06 UTC. The launch took place at Site 32 of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

### Q: What rocket was used to put Cosmos 2042 into orbit?
A: Cosmos 2042 was launched using a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle. This rocket is a Soviet/Ukrainian class of launch vehicle designed for deploying various satellite payloads.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2042 represents a specific component of late-Soviet era military infrastructure, specifically within the realm of secure communications. As a Strela-3 class satellite, it was part of a specialized constellation designed to facilitate military data transmission. Its launch using the Tsyklon-3 vehicle highlights the historical technological overlap between Soviet and Ukrainian aerospace engineering. 

The satellite's placement in orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome—a key site for Soviet military space operations—underscores its role in the strategic communication capabilities of the era. While it is one of many satellites designated under the "Cosmos" label, its specific classification as a Strela-3 identifies it as a tool for tactical or strategic messaging, contributing to the historical record of Cold War-era space assets and the evolution of expendable launch systems.

## Notable For
- **Satellite Class:** Classified as a Strela-3, a specific Ukrainian-designed military communications satellite.
- **Launch System:** Deployed via the Tsyklon-3, a notable Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.
- **Tracking Identifiers:** Recognized in international tracking databases by COSPAR ID 1989-074E and SCN 20236.
- **Series Affiliation:** Part of the extensive "Cosmos" (Kosmos) series of satellites used for various Soviet military and scientific purposes.

## Body

### Launch Details
Cosmos 2042 was launched on September 14, 1989. The launch event occurred at precisely 09:49:06 UTC. The mission was conducted from Site 32 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a major spaceport used extensively for military satellite deployments.

### Technical Specifications and Classification
The satellite is an instance of the Strela-3 class. Strela-3 satellites are defined as Ukrainian military communications satellites. For tracking and identification purposes, the craft is assigned the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 20236 and the COSPAR ID 1989-074E. In technical computing environments, it is referenced by the Wolfram Language entity code Entity["Satellite", "20236"].

### Launch Vehicle
The mission utilized the Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. The Tsyklon-3 is a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch system known for its role in delivering various payloads, particularly military communications satellites, into orbit. This vehicle class is closely associated with the deployment of the Strela-3 satellite series.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report