# Cosmos 2257
**Wikidata**: [Q12753686](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753686)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2257

## Summary
Cosmos 2257 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite of the Strela-3 class, launched on June 24, 1993. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia using a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle. The satellite is part of Ukraine's strategic space-based communication infrastructure.

## Key Facts
- Official designation: Cosmos 2257 (alias: Kosmos 2257)
- COSPAR ID: 1993-038F
- Launch date: June 24, 1993
- Launch time: 04:12:41 UTC
- Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 32
- Launch vehicle: Tsyklon-3
- Satellite class: Strela-3 (military communications satellite)
- SCN (Satellite Catalog Number): 22692
- Wikidata item: Q6272367
- Wikipedia languages with articles: Croatian (hr), Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)

## FAQs
### Q: What is Cosmos 2257?
A: Cosmos 2257 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite belonging to the Strela-3 class. It supports secure and strategic communication capabilities for the Ukrainian armed forces.

### Q: When was Cosmos 2257 launched?
A: Cosmos 2257 was launched on June 24, 1993, at 04:12:41 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

### Q: What kind of satellite is Cosmos 2257?
A: Cosmos 2257 is a Strela-3-class satellite, which is designed for military communications. These satellites are typically used for secure, long-range tactical messaging.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2257 represents a key component of Ukraine’s national defense infrastructure during the early post-Soviet period. As part of the Strela-3 program, it contributes to secure military communications, enabling coordination across large distances. Its deployment reflects Ukraine's efforts to maintain independent space-based assets following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The use of the Tsyklon-3 launcher also highlights continued cooperation with Russian space programs in the 1990s, despite emerging geopolitical shifts.

## Notable For
- Being a Strela-3 military communications satellite operated by Ukraine
- Launching aboard the Tsyklon-3, a Ukrainian-developed expendable launch system
- Part of the broader Soviet-to-Ukrainian transition in space asset utilization
- Having an international identifier (COSPAR ID 1993-038F) and catalog number (SCN 22692)
- Representing one of several Ukrainian satellites launched in the 1990s to support military operations

## Body

### Overview
Cosmos 2257 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite designated under the Strela-3 program. It was launched into orbit as part of Ukraine's strategic initiative to establish autonomous military communication capabilities after gaining independence in 1991.

### Mission Details
The satellite was successfully placed into orbit on **June 24, 1993**, at **04:12:41 UTC**. The launch occurred at the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 32**, a facility historically used for military launches by the USSR and later Russia.

### Launch Vehicle
Cosmos 2257 was launched using the **Tsyklon-3**, a three-stage expendable launch vehicle originally developed by the Soviet Union but later utilized by Ukraine. The Tsyklon-3 has been instrumental in deploying various Ukrainian payloads throughout the 1990s.

### Classification and Purpose
As a member of the **Strela-3 class**, Cosmos 2257 serves primarily for **secure military communications**. Satellites in this series are known for their role in providing encrypted, long-distance tactical messaging services essential for modern military command structures.

### Identification and Tracking
- **International Designator**: 1993-038F  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 22692  
- **Alternate Name**: Kosmos 2257  

These identifiers allow tracking and referencing within global orbital databases such as those maintained by NORAD and academic institutions like Wolfram Alpha (Entity["Satellite", "22692"]).

### Operational Context
Cosmos 2257 reflects Ukraine’s growing reliance on space-based systems for national security purposes during the 1990s. Its deployment followed earlier launches of similar satellites and marked continued development of indigenous Ukrainian space technology derived from Soviet-era designs.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report