# Cosmos 2159
**Wikidata**: [Q12753636](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753636)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2159

## Summary  
Cosmos 2159 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite of the Strela-3 class, launched on September 28, 1991. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle.

## Key Facts  
- Official designation: Cosmos 2159 (also known as Kosmos 2159)  
- COSPAR ID: 1991-068C  
- Satellite class: Strela-3 (military communications satellite)  
- Launch date: September 28, 1991  
- Launch time: 07:05:55 UTC  
- Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32  
- Launch vehicle: Tsyklon-3  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 21730  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Cosmos 2159?  
A: Cosmos 2159 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite belonging to the Strela-3 class. It was launched in 1991 to support secure military communication capabilities.

### Q: When was Cosmos 2159 launched?  
A: Cosmos 2159 was launched on September 28, 1991, at 07:05:55 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2159?  
A: The satellite was launched using a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle, a Soviet-designed rocket also used by Ukraine.

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 2159 represents part of Ukraine's early development of dedicated military satellite communications infrastructure during the final years of the Soviet Union. As a Strela-3 satellite, it contributed to enhancing secure communication capabilities for military operations. Its launch reflects the technological and strategic advancements in space-based defense systems during the early 1990s, particularly within former Soviet states transitioning toward independent national defense structures.

## Notable For  
- Being a member of the Strela-3 class, designed specifically for military communications  
- Launching during a pivotal year in geopolitical history—1991—amid the dissolution of the USSR  
- Utilizing the Tsyklon-3, a reliable but now-retired Soviet-era launch system  
- Having international recognition under both Russian (Kosmos) and global (COSPAR) naming conventions  
- Representing one of multiple satellites in Ukraine’s broader military space program  

## Body  
### Classification and Purpose  
Cosmos 2159 is classified as a Strela-3 satellite, which is a series of Ukrainian military communications satellites. These satellites were developed to provide secure and reliable communication services for military applications.

### Launch Details  
The satellite was successfully launched on **September 28, 1991**, at **07:05:55 UTC**. The launch occurred from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. This facility has historically been used for military and government satellite launches.

It was carried into orbit by a **Tsyklon-3** launch vehicle—a three-stage, liquid-fueled rocket originally developed by the Soviet Union and later operated by Ukraine. The Tsyklon-3 had a strong track record for placing payloads into low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbits.

### Identification and Tracking  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 21730  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-068C  
- Also referred to as **Kosmos 2159**, following the traditional Russian satellite naming convention  

### Operational Context  
As part of the Strela-3 constellation, Cosmos 2159 likely functioned in a low Earth orbit and played a role in relaying encrypted voice and data transmissions for military use. While exact orbital parameters and operational lifespan are not detailed here, such satellites typically serve strategic roles in national security frameworks.

### Legacy and Documentation  
Although limited public information exists regarding its full mission profile, Cosmos 2159 remains documented across several authoritative aerospace databases and is referenced in multiple language editions of Wikipedia including Croatian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian. It is also indexed in Wolfram|Alpha with the code Entity["Satellite", "21730"].

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report