# Cosmos 2358
**Wikidata**: [Q12753735](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753735)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-2358

## Summary
Cosmos 2358 is a Russian reconnaissance satellite launched in 1998 as part of the Yantar-4K2 class, designed for military intelligence gathering. It was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite is identified by COSPAR ID 1998-038A and satellite catalog number 25373.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 24, 1998, at 18:29:58 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket, a Soviet/Russian design variant.
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1998-038A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 25373.
- **Class**: Yantar-4K2, a Soviet/Russian spy satellite series.
- **Mission Type**: Military reconnaissance.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 2358?
A: Cosmos 2358 was a military reconnaissance satellite designed to gather intelligence for the Russian Armed Forces as part of the Yantar-4K2 series.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 2358 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 24, 1998, at 18:29:58 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: What is the significance of the Yantar-4K2 class?
A: The Yantar-4K2 satellites were film-return reconnaissance platforms used by the Soviet Union and later Russia for high-resolution optical imaging of Earth's surface.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 2358 represents a key component of Russia’s post-Soviet space-based reconnaissance capabilities. As part of the Yantar-4K2 series, it continued the legacy of film-return satellites that provided critical optical imagery for military and strategic planning. Its launch in 1998 underscored the ongoing reliance on proven satellite designs during a period of transition for Russia’s space program. While not as technologically advanced as later digital systems, the Yantar-4K2 class ensured continuity in intelligence gathering, bridging the gap between Soviet-era technology and modern satellite systems. This satellite, like others in its class, played a role in maintaining Russia’s strategic oversight capabilities during the late 1990s.

## Notable For
- Being part of the Yantar-4K2 series, a long-running line of Soviet/Russian film-return reconnaissance satellites.
- Launch via the Soyuz-U rocket, a reliable and widely used Soviet/Russian launch vehicle variant.
- Specific identification details, including COSPAR ID 1998-038A and SCN 25373, reflecting its status as a tracked orbital asset.
- Launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, a facility historically associated with military and intelligence-related space activities.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: June 24, 1998, at 18:29:58 UTC.
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, a launch pad in northwestern Russia used for military and civilian space missions.
- **Vehicle**: Soyuz-U (Universal), a variant of the Soyuz rocket family optimized for payloads like the Yantar satellites.

### Satellite Specifications
- **Class**: Yantar-4K2, a second-generation film-return reconnaissance satellite with a design life of 45 days.
- **Identifiers**:
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1998-038A.
  - **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 25373.
- **Alias**: Kosmos 2358, following the Soviet/Russian naming convention for military satellites.

### Mission Context
- **Role**: Conduct optical reconnaissance using film cameras, with capsules returning imagery to Earth via re-entry vehicles.
- **Historical Context**: Part of a series of satellites that maintained Russia’s capability to conduct detailed ground surveillance in the post-Soviet era, despite economic challenges affecting the space program.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report