# Cosmos 2160
**Wikidata**: [Q12753637](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753637)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2160

## Summary
Cosmos 2160 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite, part of the Strela-3 class, launched on September 28, 1991. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. The satellite supports secure military communication capabilities for Ukraine.

## Key Facts
- Official designation: Cosmos 2160 (alias: Kosmos 2160)
- COSPAR ID: 1991-068D
- Instance of: 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 expendable rocket
- Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 21731

## FAQs
### Q: What is Cosmos 2160 used for?
A: Cosmos 2160 is a military communications satellite designed to support secure Ukrainian defense communications. It belongs to the Strela-3 class of satellites developed for strategic purposes.

### Q: When was Cosmos 2160 launched?
A: Cosmos 2160 was launched on September 28, 1991, at 07:05:55 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia using a Tsyklon-3 rocket.

### Q: Who operates Cosmos 2160?
A: Cosmos 2160 is operated by Ukraine as part of its national military space assets under the Strela-3 program.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2160 represents an important component of Ukraine’s early post-Soviet military space infrastructure. As part of the Strela-3 system, it contributes to secure tactical communications essential for national defense operations. Its deployment marked continued reliance on Soviet-era launch systems like the Tsyklon-3 while establishing independent Ukrainian satellite capabilities during a transitional period in the country's aerospace development.

## Notable For
- Part of the Ukrainian-operated Strela-3 military satellite constellation
- Launched using the Tsyklon-3, a Ukrainian/Soviet expendable launch system
- Deployed shortly after Ukraine's independence, representing early sovereign military space activity
- Registered with international satellite tracking databases under COSPAR ID 1991-068D
- Identified in multiple language editions of Wikipedia including Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian

## Body
### Classification and Purpose
Cosmos 2160 is classified as a Strela-3 military communications satellite. These satellites are typically used for secure radio relay communications between ground forces and command centers. They form part of a broader network intended to ensure robust battlefield coordination and strategic messaging.

### 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 one of the primary sites for military satellite launches originating from the former Soviet Union.

It was carried into orbit by a **Tsyklon-3** launch vehicle—a three-stage expendable rocket originally developed during the Soviet era and later utilized by Ukraine for launching various payloads into low Earth orbit.

### Identification and Tracking
Cosmos 2160 is registered internationally under the **COSPAR ID 1991-068D**. It is also catalogued by NORAD with the **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 21731**, which allows global tracking and orbital monitoring through standard space surveillance networks.

### Operational Context
As part of the Strela-3 program, Cosmos 2160 plays a role in maintaining Ukraine’s strategic communication resilience. Satellites in this class generally operate in low Earth orbit and provide encrypted communication services tailored for military use.

### International Recognition
The satellite is documented across several multilingual Wikipedia projects, indicating its recognition within global aerospace and defense databases. These include versions in Croatian (**hr**), Macedonian (**mk**), Serbian (**sr**), and Serbo-Croatian (**sh**).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report