# Cosmos 417
**Wikidata**: [Q12753840](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753840)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-417

## Summary  
Cosmos 417 (also written Kosmos 417) was a Soviet‑built Strela‑1M communications satellite launched on 7 May 1971 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. It carried the COSPAR identifier 1971‑041G and the Satellite Catalog Number 05216.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 7 May 1971 (14:20 UTC)【source】  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket, a Soviet launch system【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Strela‑1M (store‑and‑forward communications satellite)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1971‑041G【source】  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 05216【source】  
- **Alternative name:** Kosmos 417 (alias)【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch recorded at the above date and time【source】  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian【source】  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/12245_9x【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 417?  
A: Cosmos 417 was a Strela‑1M communications satellite, part of the Soviet Union’s store‑and‑forward satellite series.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 417 launched?  
A: It was launched on 7 May 1971 at 14:20 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.  

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Cosmos 417?  
A: The satellite’s COSPAR ID is 1971‑041G and its Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) is 05216; it is also known by the alias Kosmos 417.  

### Q: Which rocket was used for the launch of Cosmos 417?  
A: The launch employed a Kosmos‑3M rocket, a workhorse of the Soviet launch fleet.  

### Q: Is there any public documentation about Cosmos 417?  
A: Information appears in several language editions of Wikipedia (Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian) and is indexed in Google’s Knowledge Graph under /g/12245_9x.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 417 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s extensive Strela‑1M communications constellation, a network designed to relay messages between ground stations and remote users without requiring continuous line‑of‑sight. Launched during the Cold War, these satellites provided a reliable, low‑cost means of data transmission for military and civilian purposes, enhancing the USSR’s strategic communications capability. The use of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle and the Plesetsk Cosmodrome underscores the Soviet emphasis on using domestically produced rockets and northern launch sites to protect sensitive missions from foreign observation. Understanding Cosmos 417 helps illustrate the evolution of early satellite communications, the logistical choices of the Soviet space program, and the broader context of space‑based information exchange that laid groundwork for modern global networking.  

## Notable For  
- First Strela‑1M satellite launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.  
- Utilized the Kosmos‑3M rocket, a widely used Soviet launch system.  
- Assigned the COSPAR ID 1971‑041G, linking it to the 1971 launch batch.  
- Recorded in multiple language Wikipedia editions, reflecting international interest.  
- Indexed in Google’s Knowledge Graph, facilitating modern digital discovery.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 417 (Kosmos 417) is catalogued as a Strela‑1M communications satellite. The Strela series provided store‑and‑forward capabilities, allowing data to be uploaded to the satellite and later downlinked to a different ground station.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 7 May 1971, 14:20 UTC.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, a northern launch complex used for military and scientific payloads.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket developed in the Soviet Union.  

### Satellite Classification  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M (communication satellite class).  
- **Purpose:** Store‑and‑forward communications, supporting both military and civilian messaging.  

### Mission Profile  
- **Primary function:** Relay of short messages and telemetry between dispersed ground stations.  
- **Operational lifespan:** Typical for Strela‑1M satellites (exact de‑orbit date not provided).  

### Related Systems  
- **Strela‑1M class:** A series of low‑Earth‑orbit satellites used by the USSR for data relay.  
- **Kosmos‑3M rocket:** A reliable launch vehicle that serviced many Soviet payloads, including communications, scientific, and military satellites.  

### Documentation & References  
- COSPAR ID 1971‑041G and SCN 05216 uniquely identify the satellite in international space object registries.  
- The entry appears in four language editions of Wikipedia (Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian) and is listed in Google’s Knowledge Graph under ID /g/12245_9x.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report