# Cosmos 2144
**Wikidata**: [Q13566776](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566776)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2144

## Summary  
Cosmos 2144 is a Soviet-era Strela-3 military communications satellite launched in 1991 to support secure communications for Ukrainian and Soviet forces. It was deployed via a Tsyklon-3 rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, forming part of a constellation designed for strategic military communications.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: May 16, 1991  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-033B  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 21300  
- **Class**: Strela-3 military communications satellite  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32  
- **Launch Time**: 21:40:54 UTC  
- **Operational Role**: Part of a network providing encrypted communications for military operations  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 2144?  
A: Cosmos 2144 was a military communications satellite designed to relay encrypted messages for Soviet and Ukrainian armed forces.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2144 launched?  
A: It launched on May 16, 1991, at 21:40:54 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 aboard a Tsyklon-3 rocket.  

### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2144?  
A: It belonged to the Strela-3 class, a series of satellites developed for secure military communications.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 2144 played a critical role in maintaining strategic communications for Soviet and Ukrainian military units during the late Cold War era. As part of the Strela-3 constellation, it ensured reliable data transmission in support of national security operations. The satellite’s deployment via the Tsyklon-3 rocket highlighted the Soviet Union’s capability to launch and operate specialized military spacecraft, underscoring the importance of space-based assets in modern defense strategies. Its legacy reflects the broader reliance on satellite networks for command and control systems, a practice that remains central to military operations globally.  

## Notable For  
- **Strela-3 Constellation Member**: Contributed to a network of satellites enabling encrypted military communications.  
- **Tsyklon-3 Launch**: Demonstrated the rocket’s reliability for deploying defense-related payloads.  
- **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Launch Site**: Utilized a key Soviet spaceport for strategic satellite deployments.  
- **Cold War-Era Technology**: Represented 1990s advancements in military satellite design and launch systems.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: May 16, 1991, at 21:40:54 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket)  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 (a primary Soviet space launch facility)  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **SCN**: 21300 (unique identifier for tracking)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-033B (international designation)  
- **Class**: Strela-3 (military communications satellite)  

### Mission Purpose  
Cosmos 2144 was tasked with relaying encrypted communications for Soviet and Ukrainian military units. As part of the Strela-3 series, it supported command-and-control operations, ensuring secure data transmission across strategic networks.  

### Legacy  
The satellite’s deployment reflected the Soviet Union’s emphasis on space-based military infrastructure. While its operational lifespan remains unspecified, its launch underscored the role of the Tsyklon-3 rocket in maintaining defense-related space capabilities during the final years of the Soviet era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report