# Cosmos 2118
**Wikidata**: [Q12907578](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907578)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2118

## Summary
Cosmos 2118 was a Soviet-era military communications satellite launched on December 22, 1990. Identified by the COSPAR ID 1990-114E and the Satellite Catalog Number 21032, it was a specific instance of the Strela-3 class of spacecraft. The satellite was deployed into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 2118 is an instance of the **Strela-3** class, which is a type of Ukrainian military communications satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **December 22, 1990**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled into space by a **Tsyklon-3**, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**.
*   **Identifiers:** The satellite holds the COSPAR ID **1990-114E** and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **21032**.
*   **Launch Event:** The specific rocket launch occurred at **07:28:53** on the date of departure.
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as **Kosmos 2118**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2118?
A: Cosmos 2118 was a Strela-3 satellite, a class utilized for Ukrainian military communications.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 2118 launched?
A: It was launched on December 22, 1990, at 07:28:53 using a Tsyklon-3 rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.

### Q: What are the international identifiers for Cosmos 2118?
A: The satellite is identified internationally by the COSPAR ID 1990-114E and the Satellite Catalog Number 21032.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2118 serves as a historical example of late-Soviet era space infrastructure and the transition of aerospace technologies in the region. As part of the Strela-3 class, it represents a specific generation of military communications capabilities designed to provide strategic information relay services. The entry highlights the industrial collaboration inherent in the Soviet space program, utilizing a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle—which is noted as Soviet/Ukrainian—to deploy a Ukrainian-classified military satellite.

The detailed tracking data associated with this entity, including its precise launch time and site (Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32), provides valuable insight into the operational tempo and logistical specifics of military space launches at the close of 1990. By cataloging these specific technical and temporal details, the record aids in the broader understanding of orbital deployment patterns and the historical usage of the Plesetsk facility.

## Notable For
*   **Specific Military Role:** Being a member of the Strela-3 class, designated for military communications rather than civilian use.
*   **Precise Launch Data:** Having a verifiable, exact launch time of 07:28:53, offering high precision for historical orbital tracking.
*   **Launch Vehicle Heritage:** Utilizing the Tsyklon-3, a distinct expendable launch system with significant history in Soviet and Ukrainian spaceflight.
*   **Cosmos Designation:** Continuing the long-standing "Cosmos" naming convention used to mask the true nature or number of Soviet military satellites during the Cold War era.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
Cosmos 2118 is formally classified as a **Strela-3** satellite. This class is defined as a type of Ukrainian military communications satellite. The entity is an instance of this specific hardware configuration. In various databases and languages, it is referred to by the alias **Kosmos 2118**.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite's deployment was a significant event categorized as a **rocket launch**.
*   **Date:** The mission took place on **December 22, 1990**.
*   **Time:** The precise moment of the launch event was recorded as **07:28:53**.
*   **Location:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**, a major spaceport used historically for military satellite deployments.
*   **Vehicle:** The **Tsyklon-3** served as the expendable launch vehicle, acting as the delivery system to transport the satellite from the cosmodrome to its intended orbit.

### Technical Identifiers
To track and differentiate Cosmos 2118 from other orbital objects, specific numeric and alphanumeric designators are used:
*   **COSPAR ID:** **1990-114E**. This international designation indicates the launch year (1990), the sequence of the launch (114), and the specific component (E).
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** **21032**. This is the distinct number assigned within the US satellite catalog.
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "21032"].

### Data Sources
The structured knowledge regarding this entity is supported by references found in Wikidata (specifically related to `Q6272367` and `Q200386`) and sitelinks across Wikipedia languages including Croatian (hr), Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report