# Cosmos 2301
**Wikidata**: [Q12753706](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753706)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2301

## Summary  
Cosmos 2301 is a Ukrainian military communications satellite launched in 1994 as part of the Strela-3 class. It was deployed using a Tsyklon-3 rocket and operated as part of a network supporting strategic communications.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: December 26, 1994, at 22:26:58 UTC.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Tsyklon-3, a Soviet/Ukrainian expendable rocket.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1994-086C.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 23443.  
- **Class**: Strela-3 military communications satellite.  
- **Purpose**: Secure communication relay for Ukrainian military operations.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Cosmos 2301 launched?  
A: Cosmos 2301 was launched on December 26, 1994, at 22:26:58 UTC.  

### Q: What type of satellite is Cosmos 2301?  
A: It is a Strela-3-class military communications satellite, designed for secure data transmission.  

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 2301?  
A: The satellite was deployed via a Tsyklon-3 launch vehicle, a Soviet/Ukrainian rocket system.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 2301 represents a key component of Ukraine’s military communications infrastructure during the post-Soviet era. As part of the Strela-3 constellation, it contributed to secure, reliable data transmission critical for defense operations. Its launch on a Tsyklon-3 rocket underscores the technological continuity between Soviet and Ukrainian space programs, highlighting the strategic importance of satellite communications in maintaining national security. This satellite, though one of many in its class, reflects the broader reliance on space-based assets for military coordination and logistics.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Role**: Supported encrypted communications for Ukrainian defense systems.  
- **Launch Heritage**: Utilized the Tsyklon-3 rocket, a workhorse of Soviet and later Ukrainian space launches.  
- **Constellation Member**: Operated as part of the Strela-3 network, ensuring redundancy and coverage.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date/Time**: December 26, 1994, at 22:26:58 UTC.  
- **Vehicle**: Tsyklon-3, a liquid-fueled rocket with a history of deploying military and scientific payloads.  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Strela-3, a third-generation military communications satellite.  
- **Identifiers**:  
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1994-086C.  
  - **SCN**: 23443.  

### Mission Context  
- **Purpose**: Provided secure communication links for Ukrainian military units.  
- **Operational Network**: Part of a constellation designed for store-and-forward messaging, enabling communication in denied or contested environments.  

### Legacy  
- **Technological Continuity**: The use of Tsyklon-3 rockets and Strela-3 satellites bridged Soviet space infrastructure with Ukraine’s independent space program post-1991.  
- **Strategic Value**: Demonstrated Ukraine’s capacity to maintain critical satellite systems amid geopolitical shifts.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report