# Cosmos 2151
**Wikidata**: [Q12753633](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753633)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2151

## Summary

Cosmos 2151 is a Soviet signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite of the Tselina-R class, launched on June 13, 1991, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. It was part of the Soviet Union's orbital signals intelligence collection program, designed to intercept and monitor electronic communications from orbit. The satellite carries the designation 1991-042A in the COSPAR catalog and is cataloged as Satellite Number 21422.

## Key Facts

- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 21422
- **COSPAR ID:** 1991-042A
- **Common Names:** Cosmos 2151, Kosmos 2151
- **Classification:** Tselina-R (Soviet signals intelligence satellite)
- **Launch Date:** June 13, 1991
- **Launch Time:** 15:41:00 UTC
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle)
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)
- **Sitelink Count:** 3

## FAQs

**What type of satellite is Cosmos 2151?**

Cosmos 2151 is a Tselina-R class signals intelligence satellite operated by the Soviet Union. The Tselina-R satellites were designed for electronic intelligence (ELINT) collection, monitoring radar signals and other electronic emissions from orbit.

**When was Cosmos 2151 launched?**

Cosmos 2151 was launched on June 13, 1991, at 15:41:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 in northern Russia.

**What launch vehicle was used for Cosmos 2151?**

The satellite was launched aboard a Tsyklon-3 rocket, a Soviet-designed expendable launch vehicle that was also produced in Ukraine. The Tsyklon-3 was capable of placing payloads into low Earth orbit and was used for various civilian and military missions.

**Where was Cosmos 2151 launched from?**

Cosmos 2151 was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32, one of the primary Soviet/Russian space launch facilities located in northwestern Russia near the town of Plesetsk in Arkhangelsk Oblast.

**How is Cosmos 2151 identified in satellite catalogs?**

The satellite is cataloged as COSPAR ID 1991-042A and has a Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) of 21422. It is also referred to as Kosmos 2151 in various international space tracking databases.

## Why It Matters

Cosmos 2151 represents an important component of the Soviet Union's signals intelligence infrastructure during the final years of the Cold War. Launched in 1991, it operated during a pivotal historical moment when the Soviet Union was undergoing significant political transformation. The Tselina-R satellite system was designed to provide the Soviet military with strategic electronic intelligence capabilities, intercepting radar signals and communications to support national security objectives.

The satellite's existence illustrates the Soviet investment in space-based surveillance assets during the 1980s and early 1990s. Signals intelligence satellites like Cosmos 2151 played a crucial role in gathering information about foreign military communications, radar systems, and electronic infrastructure. This information was vital for strategic planning, threat assessment, and maintaining military parity with Western powers.

The Tselina program overall represented one of the Soviet Union's most ambitious space-based SIGINT efforts, with multiple generations of satellites deployed over several decades. Understanding individual satellites like Cosmos 2151 helps historians and analysts piece together the broader picture of Cold War-era intelligence operations and the technological competition between East and West.

## Notable For

- Part of the Tselina-R signals intelligence satellite series, representing Soviet ELINT capabilities
- Launched during the final year of the Soviet Union's existence, capturing a transitional moment in space-based intelligence gathering
- One of three satellites in the Cosmos 2151 series with Wikipedia language editions (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian)
- Represents the Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle's capability to deliver military payloads to orbit
- Carries the designation 1991-042A, marking it as the 42nd orbital launch of 1991

## Body

### Classification and Purpose

Cosmos 2151 belongs to the Tselina-R class of Soviet signals intelligence satellites. The Tselina program was one of the Soviet Union's primary orbital SIGINT collection systems, designed to intercept and analyze electronic emissions from ground-based and naval sources. The Tselina-R specifically represented an advanced iteration of this satellite family, equipped with sophisticated antenna systems and sensors for detecting radar signals and communications across various frequency bands.

The primary mission of Tselina-R satellites like Cosmos 2151 was electronic intelligence (ELINT) collection. These spacecraft would monitor military radar systems, track naval vessels through their electronic emissions, and gather technical intelligence on foreign communications infrastructure. The data collected contributed to Soviet strategic planning and threat assessment during the Cold War.

### Launch Details

Cosmos 2151 was launched on June 13, 1991, at 15:41:00 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32. The Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located in northwestern Russia's Arkhangelsk Oblast, served as one of the Soviet Union's primary spaceports, particularly for military and polar-orbiting satellites. Site 32 specifically supported numerous Tsyklon-3 launches throughout the program's history.

The launch vehicle was the Tsyklon-3, a Soviet expendable rocket developed by the Yuzhnoye Design Office in Ukraine. The Tsyklon-3 was a three-stage rocket capable of placing approximately 4,000 kg payloads into low Earth orbit. It was used for both civilian and military missions, including the deployment of navigation satellites, Earth observation spacecraft, and signals intelligence platforms like the Tselina-R series.

### Orbital Parameters

As a Tselina-R satellite, Cosmos 2151 would have been placed into a low Earth orbit optimized for signals intelligence collection. While specific orbital parameters are not provided in the source material, the Tselina-R satellites typically operated in orbits that allowed extended observation windows over target areas, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere where most Soviet surveillance targets were located.

The satellite was assigned the COSPAR designation 1991-042A, indicating it was the first object (A) associated with the 42nd orbital launch of 1991. The international designation system provides a standardized way for space tracking organizations to identify and catalog artificial objects in Earth orbit.

### Catalog Identification

Cosmos 2151 carries the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 21422, assigned by the United States Space Force's Space Track organization. This number uniquely identifies the satellite in international space object databases and is used by space situational awareness services worldwide for tracking and orbital management.

The satellite is also referenced by its Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "21422"], which allows computational systems to access and process information about the satellite programmatically.

### Historical Context

The launch of Cosmos 2151 occurred during a critical period in world history. In 1991, the Soviet Union was experiencing significant political and economic turmoil that would ultimately lead to its dissolution in December of that year. Despite these challenges, the Soviet space program continued operations, including the deployment of military satellites.

The Tselina-R program represented the culmination of decades of Soviet investment in space-based signals intelligence. Earlier Tselina satellites had provided valuable intelligence during the 1970s and 1980s, and the R-series represented improvements in sensor capability, orbital endurance, and data transmission. Cosmos 2151 thus represents both a technological achievement and a historical artifact of the final years of Soviet military space operations.

### Related Entities

Cosmos 2151 is connected to several important related entities:

- **Tselina-R:** The satellite class to which Cosmos 2151 belongs. The Tselina-R was a signals intelligence satellite design used by the Soviet Union for electronic surveillance operations.
- **Tsyklon-3:** The launch vehicle used to place Cosmos 2151 into orbit. The Tsyklon-3 was a Soviet-designed expendable rocket that saw service from the 1970s through the 1990s.
- **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32:** The launch site from which Cosmos 2151 ascended to orbit. This facility was a primary Soviet launch location for polar-orbiting satellites.

### International Recognition

Cosmos 2151 has Wikipedia articles in three language editions: Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr). This multilingual coverage indicates international interest in the satellite, particularly among Slavic-language Wikipedia communities. The sitelink count of 3 reflects these Wikipedia language editions.

### Technical Legacy

The Tselina program, including satellites like Cosmos 2151, contributed to the Soviet Union's strategic intelligence capabilities during the Cold War. While specific technical details of the Tselina-R design remain classified, these satellites represented significant engineering achievements in terms of sensor technology, power generation, and data handling for space-based intelligence collection.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia continued to operate signals intelligence satellites, though the Tselina program was eventually succeeded by other systems. Cosmos 2151 thus represents both the continuation of a Cold War-era program and a transitional moment in the history of Russian military space operations.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report