# Cosmos 2171
**Wikidata**: [Q13566782](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566782)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2171

## Summary
Cosmos 2171 was a Soviet-era reconnaissance satellite launched on November 20, 1991. Identified by the COSPAR designation 1991-078A, it was a Yantar-4K2 class spacecraft, a type commonly utilized for spy operations. The satellite was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Name:** Cosmos 2171 (also known as Kosmos 2171).
*   **Classification:** Instance of Yantar-4K2, a Soviet/Russian spy satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** November 20, 1991.
*   **Launch Time:** 19:15:00.
*   **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U rocket.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1991-078A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 21787.
*   **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 2171?
A: Cosmos 2171 was a Yantar-4K2 class satellite, which is categorized as a Soviet/Russian spy satellite used for reconnaissance purposes.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 2171 launched?
A: It was launched on November 20, 1991, at 19:15:00, using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.

### Q: What are the international identifiers for Cosmos 2171?
A: The satellite holds the COSPAR ID 1991-078A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 21787.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2171 represents a specific configuration of the Yantar-4K2 series, a mainstay of Soviet and later Russian space-based intelligence gathering. Launched in late 1991, it stands as one of the final examples of space hardware deployed under the auspices of the Soviet Union before its dissolution in December of that year. The mission underscores the continued reliance on the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, a workhorse of the Soviet space program noted for its "Universal" design variant. By utilizing the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 43, the mission highlights the strategic importance of this northern launch complex for deploying reconnaissance payloads into specific orbital inclations. The detailed tracking data associated with this object (SCN 21787) allows analysts to categorize it precisely within the history of spaceflight as a dedicated military asset rather than a scientific or communications satellite.

## Notable For
*   **Classification:** Distinguished as a Yantar-4K2 satellite, a specialized platform for Soviet/Russian espionage.
*   **Timing:** Launched in late 1991, situating it at the very end of the Soviet Union's operational history.
*   **Launch System:** Utilized the Soyuz-U rocket, a variant described as the "Universal" design.
*   **Orbital Tracking:** Assigned a distinct Satellite Catalog Number (21787) for international monitoring.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 2171 was an artificial satellite operated by the Soviet Union (and subsequently the Russian Federation). Structurally and functionally, it is identified as an instance of the **Yantar-4K2** class. This class of spacecraft is explicitly defined in source records as a "Soviet/Russian spy satellite," indicating its primary role in military reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully delivered to orbit via a significant rocket launch event.
*   **Date of Launch:** November 20, 1991.
*   **Time of Launch:** 19:15:00.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The mission employed a **Soyuz-U** rocket. The Soyuz-U is noted as a "Universal" variant of the Soyuz rocket design, developed within the Soviet Union.
*   **Location:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43**, a primary launch facility for military satellites.

### Identifiers and Data
To facilitate tracking and cataloging within international space databases, Cosmos 2171 was assigned specific alphanumeric codes:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1991-078A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 21787.
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "21787"].

The satellite is referenced across multiple Wikipedia languages, including Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr), reflecting its documentation in regional technical records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report