# Cosmos 2125
**Wikidata**: [Q12907580](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907580)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2125

## Summary
Cosmos 2125 is a Russian military communications satellite launched on February 12, 1991, as part of the Strela-1M series. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket. The satellite is identified by COSPAR ID 1991-009A and SCN number 21100.

## Key Facts
- Launched on **February 12, 1991** at **02:44:00 UTC**
- Launch site: **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133**
- Launch vehicle: **Kosmos-3M** rocket
- Satellite class: **Strela-1M**
- Alternate name: **Kosmos 2125**
- Country of origin: **Soviet Union** (now Russia)
- COSPAR ID: **1991-009A**
- SCN number: **21100**

## FAQs
### Q: What is Cosmos 2125?
A: Cosmos 2125 is a Soviet/Russian military communications satellite belonging to the Strela-1M class. It was launched in 1991 for secure low-data-rate communication purposes.

### Q: When was Cosmos 2125 launched?
A: Cosmos 2125 was launched on February 12, 1991, at 02:44:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

### Q: What kind of satellite is Cosmos 2125?
A: Cosmos 2125 is a Strela-1M-class satellite, designed for military communications with encrypted telemetry relay capabilities.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2125 represents one of many satellites in the long-standing Strela-1M program, which has been critical to Russian military communications since the Cold War era. These satellites provide reliable, store-and-forward communication services for strategic forces, including submarines and ground units. As part of this system, Cosmos 2125 contributes to national defense infrastructure and reflects the continued use of proven satellite technology for secure messaging. Its launch also marks a late-era mission during the final years of the Soviet Union, highlighting continuity in space-based military assets despite political changes.

## Notable For
- Part of the operational **Strela-1M military satellite constellation**
- Launched near the end of the **Soviet Union's existence**, representing continuity into modern Russia
- Utilizes the **Kosmos-3M**, a well-established and frequently used small-lift launch vehicle
- Assigned **SCN designation 21100**, tracked by international satellite databases
- Operated under the **Kosmos naming convention**, commonly applied to classified or military missions

## Body

### Mission Overview
Cosmos 2125 is a military communications satellite operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces. It belongs to the Strela-1M series, a group of low-Earth orbit satellites primarily used for secure tactical communications.

### Technical Classification
- **Instance Of**: Strela-1M satellite
- **Purpose**: Secure store-and-forward communications
- **Orbit Type**: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- **Design Life**: Approximately 2–3 years typical for Strela-1M class

### Launch Details
- **Launch Date**: February 12, 1991
- **Launch Time**: 02:44:00 UTC
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M
  - A two-stage liquid-fueled rocket developed by the Soviet Union
  - Widely used for launching smaller military payloads

### Identifiers & Tracking
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-009A
- **SCN Number**: 21100
- **Alternate Name(s)**: Kosmos 2125
- **Wolfram Alpha Code**: `Entity["Satellite", "21100"]`

### Operational Context
The Strela-1M system supports decentralized command networks across mobile platforms such as ships, submarines, and remote ground installations. Satellites like Cosmos 2125 receive stored messages from terrestrial stations and retransmit them when passing overhead, ensuring global coverage through orbital mechanics rather than geostationary positioning.

### Historical Significance
Launched shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union later that year, Cosmos 2125 exemplifies the ongoing development and deployment of military space assets even amid major geopolitical shifts. This continuity underscores the importance placed on maintaining robust strategic communications infrastructure throughout periods of transition.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report