# Cosmos 2166
**Wikidata**: [Q12753639](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753639)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2166

## Summary
Cosmos 2166 was a Soviet-era military communications satellite launched on November 12, 1991. Classified as a Strela-3 type satellite, it was deployed into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. It is identified by the international designator 1991-077B and the Satellite Catalog Number 21780.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 2166 is an instance of the Strela-3 class, a type of Ukrainian military communications satellite.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on November 12, 1991.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.
- **Precise Launch Time:** The significant event (rocket launch) occurred at 20:09:33.
- **COSPAR ID:** The satellite bears the international designation 1991-077B.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the identifier 21780.
- **Aliases:** The entity is also known as "Kosmos 2166."

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is Cosmos 2166?
A: Cosmos 2166 is a Strela-3 satellite, which is a class of military communications satellite developed by Ukraine.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 2166 launched?
A: It was launched on November 12, 1991, at 20:09:33, using a Tsyklon-3 rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.

### Q: What are the identifying codes for Cosmos 2166?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1991-077B and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 21780.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2166 serves as a specific historical data point within the context of late-Soviet and post-Soviet space infrastructure. As an instance of the Strela-3 class, its primary significance lies in its role as a node for military communications, representing the technological capabilities of the Ukrainian defense space industry during that era. The launch of Cosmos 2166 highlights the operational reliance on the Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket system, for deploying military payloads.

The mission is also notable for its precise timing and location data, offering verifiable facts regarding space launch events from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite's designation within the "Cosmos" series—a generic naming convention used for Soviet military satellites—illustrates the standard operational security procedures of the time, where specific mission details were often obscured behind a sequential number. For researchers and space historians, the identifiers associated with Cosmos 2166 (such as the SCN 21780) provide essential linkage to tracking data and orbital history.

## Notable For
- Being a specific operational unit of the **Strela-3** military communications constellation.
- Utilizing the **Tsyklon-3** launch vehicle, a prominent Soviet/Ukrainian rocket.
- Launching from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32**, a key infrastructure point for the Soviet space program.
- Possessing a precise, recorded launch time of **20:09:33** on its launch date.
- Being tracked under the specific Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "21780"]`.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 2166 is an artificial satellite operating within the military communications sector. Its designation as a Strela-3 unit confirms its function as part of a system designed to provide strategic and tactical communication capabilities. The "Cosmos" designation follows the long-standing convention of naming Soviet military satellites to mask their specific military nature.

### Launch Details
The deployment of Cosmos 2166 was a significant event logged with high precision:
- **Date of Launch:** November 12, 1991.
- **Time of Launch:** 20:09:33.
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The Tsyklon-3, an expendable launch system noted for its reliability in deploying satellite constellations.

### Technical Identifiers
The satellite is cataloged in international databases with the following specifics:
- **COSPAR International Designator:** 1991-077B. This code indicates the year of launch (1991), the specific launch vehicle flight (077), and that this was the primary or a specific component (B) of that launch.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 21780. This is the unique identifier assigned by the US Space Command (USSPACECOM) to track the object in orbit.
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** The satellite is computationally defined as `Entity["Satellite", "21780"]`.

### Linguistic Presence
Information regarding Cosmos 2166 is preserved across multiple language editions of Wikipedia, including Croatian (hr), Macedonian (mk), and Serbian (sr/sh), indicating its recognition in regional technical records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report