# Cosmos 2243
**Wikidata**: [Q12907615](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907615)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2243

## Summary
Cosmos 2243 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1993 as part of the Yantar-1KFT class, designed for military surveillance. It was deployed via a Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, serving as part of the Soviet Union's intelligence-gathering efforts during the final years of the Cold War.

## Key Facts
- **COSPAR ID**: 1993-028A  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 22641  
- **Launch Date**: April 27, 1993  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31  
- **Class**: Yantar-1KFT (Soviet spy satellite)  
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 2243  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 2243?
A: Cosmos 2243 was a Soviet spy satellite designed for reconnaissance as part of the Yantar-1KFT program, conducting military surveillance during the Cold War era.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2243 launched?
A: It launched on April 27, 1993, at 10:35:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 in the Soviet Union (now Kazakhstan).

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2243?
A: The satellite was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soyuz launch vehicle designed for universal payload capabilities.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2243 represents a critical component of the Soviet Union’s Cold War-era reconnaissance efforts. As part of the Yantar-1KFT class, it utilized film-based imaging technology to gather intelligence, a method that required physical recovery of film capsules. Its launch in 1993, just two years before the Soviet Union’s dissolution, underscores its role in maintaining strategic oversight amid geopolitical tensions. The mission highlights the technological and operational continuity of Soviet satellite programs, even as the Cold War neared its end. For historians and analysts, Cosmos 2243 provides insight into the evolution of space-based espionage and the logistical challenges of analog surveillance systems.

## Notable For
- **Yantar-1KFT Class Membership**: Part of a series of film-return reconnaissance satellites critical to Soviet military intelligence.  
- **Soyuz-U Launch Vehicle**: Demonstrated the reliability and adaptability of the Soyuz rocket family, which remains in use today.  
- **Late Cold War Operation**: Launched in 1993, reflecting ongoing surveillance needs despite the impending collapse of the Soviet Union.  
- **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**: Utilized a historic launch pad integral to Soviet and later Russian space activities.  

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: April 27, 1993, at 10:35:00 UTC.  
- **Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a key Soviet launch facility.  
- **Vehicle**: Soyuz-U (Universal variant), a workhorse rocket for military and scientific missions.  

### Satellite Specifications
- **Class**: Yantar-1KFT, a third-generation Soviet reconnaissance satellite.  
- **Function**: Equipped for photographic surveillance, likely using film capsules recovered mid-mission.  
- **Identifiers**: COSPAR ID 1993-028A, SCN 22641.  

### Mission Context
- **Program**: Part of the broader Yantar series, which included multiple satellite subtypes for varying reconnaissance needs.  
- **Historical Significance**: Operated during the final years of the Soviet Union, illustrating the sustained investment in space-based intelligence despite political instability.  
- **Legacy**: Contributed to the foundation of modern Russian reconnaissance systems, though specific mission outcomes remain classified.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report