# Cosmos 2140
**Wikidata**: [Q12907587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907587)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2140

## Summary
Cosmos 2140 is a Russian GLONASS navigation satellite launched on April 4, 1991, as part of the original GLONASS constellation. It was deployed using a Proton-K rocket with a Blok DM-2 upper stage from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite played a role in Russia's global satellite navigation system, contributing to positioning and timing services.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 4, 1991, at 10:47:12 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K rocket with a Blok DM-2 upper stage.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-025B.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 21217.
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **Mission**: Part of the GLONASS navigation satellite system.
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## FAQs
### Q: When was Cosmos 2140 launched?
A: Cosmos 2140 was launched on April 4, 1991, at 10:47:12 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 2140?
A: It was a navigation satellite in the GLONASS system, designed to provide global positioning and timing data for military and civilian use.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2140?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Proton-K carrier rocket, equipped with a Blok DM-2 upper stage.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2140 is significant as part of the early expansion of the GLONASS navigation system, Russia's alternative to the U.S.-led GPS. As a second-generation GLONASS satellite, it helped establish a fully operational constellation, enhancing Russia's strategic autonomy in space-based navigation. The satellite's deployment during the Soviet era underscores its role in maintaining critical infrastructure during a period of geopolitical transition. GLONASS satellites like Cosmos 2140 support both military logistics and civilian applications, including aviation, maritime navigation, and land surveying, contributing to global navigation capabilities.

## Notable For
- **Part of the Original GLONASS Constellation**: One of the satellites forming the foundational network for Russia's global navigation system.
- **Proton-K Rocket Deployment**: Utilized the Soviet-era Proton-K launch vehicle, a workhorse for heavy payloads.
- **Blok DM-2 Upper Stage**: Demonstrated the use of this upper stage for precise orbital insertion, common in Soviet and Russian satellite launches.
- **Cold War-Era Infrastructure**: Launched in 1991, reflecting the Soviet Union's efforts to maintain technological parity in space-based navigation.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: April 4, 1991, at 10:47:12 UTC.
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 (a facility historically used for Proton rocket launches).
- **Rocket**: Proton-K (a heavy-lift launch vehicle) with a Blok DM-2 upper stage for orbital insertion.

### Satellite Specifications
- **Type**: GLONASS navigation satellite (second generation).
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-025B (international designation for tracking).
- **SCN**: 21217 (Satellite Catalog Number assigned by the North American Aerospace Defense Command).

### Mission Context
- **Constellation Role**: Part of the 24-satellite GLONASS network, designed to provide global coverage for navigation and timing signals.
- **Historical Significance**: Launched during the final months of the Soviet Union, contributing to the continuity of Russia's space infrastructure post-1991.
- **Technical Legacy**: The use of the Blok DM-2 upper stage highlights Soviet propulsion technology, which remained in service for decades.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report