# Cosmos 2170
**Wikidata**: [Q13566781](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566781)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2170

## Summary
Cosmos 2170 is a Strela-3 class military communications satellite launched by the Soviet Union in late 1991. It was deployed into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to serve as part of a secure government and military messaging network.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Strela-3 military communications satellite
- **Launch Date:** November 12, 1991
- **Launch Time:** 20:09:33 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-3
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 21784
- **COSPAR ID:** 1991-077F
- **Instance Of:** Strela-3 [class]
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 2170

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Cosmos 2170?
A: Cosmos 2170 is a Strela-3 class satellite, which is a type of Ukrainian-designed military communications satellite. It was built to facilitate secure store-and-forward communications for military and government personnel.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2170 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on November 12, 1991, from Site 32 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch event was recorded at 20:09:33 UTC.

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 2170?
A: It was launched using a Tsyklon-3, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle. This rocket was the standard carrier for Strela-class communication satellites during that era.

### Q: How is Cosmos 2170 identified in satellite catalogs?
A: It is identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 21784 and the international COSPAR ID 1991-077F. In technical databases like the Wolfram Language, it is indexed as Entity["Satellite", "21784"].

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2170 represents a critical component of the military communications infrastructure established during the final months of the Soviet Union. As a Strela-3 class satellite, it was part of a constellation designed to provide reliable, secure data transmission across vast distances. These satellites utilized "store-and-dump" technology, allowing them to receive data over one location and transmit it later when passing over a designated receiving station, which was essential for global military coordination.

The launch of Cosmos 2170 is also significant for its use of the Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle, a joint Soviet/Ukrainian aerospace achievement. The mission highlights the operational capabilities of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32 in maintaining orbital constellations. Because it was launched in November 1991, just weeks before the formal dissolution of the USSR, it stands as one of the final military assets deployed under the Soviet space program. Its continued presence in tracking catalogs like SCN and COSPAR ensures it remains a point of reference for orbital debris monitoring and historical aerospace analysis.

## Notable For
- **Military Classification:** Functioned as a Strela-3 Ukrainian military communications satellite.
- **Specific Launch Origin:** Deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32, a major hub for Soviet military space activity.
- **Reliable Launch Platform:** Utilized the Tsyklon-3, a notable Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle.
- **Precise Orbital Entry:** Successfully reached orbit following a launch at exactly 20:09:33 on November 12, 1991.

## Body

### Mission and Classification
Cosmos 2170, also known by the alias Kosmos 2170, is an instance of the Strela-3 satellite class. This class consists of Ukrainian military communications satellites designed for secure data handling. The satellite was part of a broader effort to maintain a robust orbital communication network for defense purposes.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched into space on November 12, 1991. The launch was conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically utilizing the infrastructure at Site 32. The Tsyklon-3 expendable launch vehicle, a rocket of Soviet and Ukrainian origin, was responsible for carrying the satellite into its designated orbit. The significant event of the rocket launch was timestamped at 20:09:33.

### Technical Identification
Cosmos 2170 is tracked globally using several standardized identification systems:
- **SCN:** 21784
- **COSPAR ID:** 1991-077F
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "21784"]

### International Recognition
While primarily a military asset, the satellite is documented across various international academic and space records. It is referenced in multiple Wikipedia language editions, including Croatian (hr), Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr), reflecting its historical place in the regional aerospace legacy of the former Soviet republics.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report