# Cosmos 254
**Wikidata**: [Q12753779](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753779)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-254

## Summary
Cosmos 254 (also known as Kosmos 254) was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched on November 21, 1968. It belonged to the Zenit-4 class of satellites and was deployed into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 254 was an instance of the **Zenit-4** class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **November 21, 1968**.
*   **Launch Time:** The specific launch event occurred at **12:10:01** UTC.
*   **Launch Site:** It launched from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41** in the Soviet Union.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was delivered to orbit by a **Voskhod** rocket.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international satellite identifier is **1968-104A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the catalog number **03562**.
*   **Alternate Name:** The entity is also aliased as **Kosmos 254**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 254?
A: Cosmos 254 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite specifically designated as a Zenit-4 class vehicle.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 254 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on November 21, 1968, at 12:10:01 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 254?
A: Cosmos 254 was launched using a Voskhod launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 254 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's operational space reconnaissance capabilities during the late 1960s. As a Zenit-4 satellite, it was part of a crucial program used for military observation and intelligence gathering. The mission highlights the transition and reliance on the Voskhod launch vehicle, a platform derived from the R-7 Semyorka family, which served both crewed and uncrewed spaceflight needs. By utilizing the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 41, the mission underscores the strategic importance of this northern launch complex for deploying military assets into high-inclination orbits. The designation "Cosmos" followed the standard Soviet practice of obscuring the specific military nature of reconnaissance satellites under a generic scientific label.

## Notable For
*   Being a documented unit of the **Zenit-4** series of reconnaissance satellites.
*   Launching aboard the **Voskhod** rocket, a vehicle historically associated with both crewed missions and satellite deployment.
*   Utilizing **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41**, a specific launch infrastructure used during the Soviet space era.
*   Possessing a precise recorded launch time of **12:10:01** on November 21, 1968.

## Body

### Classification and Identity
Cosmos 254 was a Soviet satellite officially classified as a Zenit-4 vehicle. This designation identifies it as part of a series of recoverable reconnaissance satellites used by the Soviet Union for military Earth observation. The satellite is identified in international catalogs by the COSPAR ID "1968-104A" and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) "03562." In the Wolfram Language system, the entity is coded as `Entity["Satellite", "03562"]`.

### Launch and Operation
The mission was executed on November 21, 1968. The significant event of the rocket launch took place at the precise time of 12:10:01. The departure point for the mission was the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 41, which served as the start point for the launch.

### Launch Vehicle
The delivery system used to place Cosmos 254 into orbit was the Voskhod launch vehicle. This rocket is a derivative of the Soviet R-7 family and is associated with both the series of Soviet crewed spacecraft and uncrewed satellite launches.

### Data References
The structural data regarding Cosmos 254 is supported by references including the Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/121wcdbf` and Wikipedia sitelinks across languages including Hungarian (hu), Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report