# Cosmos 549
**Wikidata**: [Q13381732](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13381732)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-549

## Summary
Cosmos 549 was a Soviet signals intelligence satellite launched on February 28, 1973, as part of the Tselina-OM program. It was deployed using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, marking a significant mission in Soviet space surveillance operations.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: February 28, 1973
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132
- **Satellite Class**: Tselina-OM
- **COSPAR ID**: 1973-010A
- **Country of Origin**: Soviet Union
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch at 04:37:00 UTC on February 28, 1973
- **Wikipedia Availability**: Available in Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 549?
A: Cosmos 549 was a Soviet signals intelligence satellite designed to monitor and collect electronic signals for military intelligence purposes.

### Q: Which rocket was used to launch Cosmos 549?
A: The satellite was launched using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: When was Cosmos 549 launched?
A: Cosmos 549 was launched on February 28, 1973, at 04:37:00 UTC.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID of Cosmos 549?
A: The COSPAR ID of Cosmos 549 is 1973-010A.

### Q: In which languages is information about Cosmos 549 available on Wikipedia?
A: Information about Cosmos 549 is available on Wikipedia in Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 549 played a crucial role in the Soviet Union's signals intelligence operations, contributing to its extensive space-based surveillance network. As part of the Tselina-OM program, it was designed to intercept and analyze electronic signals, including communications and radar emissions, supporting military and intelligence objectives. The satellite's successful deployment underscores the Soviet Union's advanced capabilities in space-based intelligence gathering during the Cold War era. Its launch and operation were part of a broader initiative to maintain a strategic advantage in electronic surveillance, reflecting the era's geopolitical tensions and technological competition.

## Notable For
- **Tselina-OM Classification**: Cosmos 549 was one of the many satellites in the Tselina-OM series, known for their role in signals intelligence.
- **Kosmos-3M Launch**: The satellite was launched using the Kosmos-3M rocket, a reliable launch vehicle for Soviet intelligence satellites.
- **Plesetsk Launch Site**: The mission originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key facility for Soviet space launches.
- **Cold War Intelligence**: The satellite's operation was part of the Soviet Union's broader efforts to monitor global communications during the Cold War.
- **COSPAR Identification**: The COSPAR ID 1973-010A uniquely identifies the satellite in international space tracking systems.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 549 was a Soviet signals intelligence satellite launched on February 28, 1973, as part of the Tselina-OM program. The satellite was designed to intercept and analyze electronic signals, including communications and radar emissions, supporting military and intelligence objectives. The mission was executed using a Kosmos-3M rocket, which launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 at 04:37:00 UTC.

### Satellite Classification
Cosmos 549 was classified under the Tselina-OM series, a category of Soviet satellites known for their role in signals intelligence. The Tselina-OM satellites were part of a broader network designed to monitor and collect electronic signals for military intelligence purposes. The satellite's classification as Tselina-OM highlights its specific role in electronic surveillance.

### Launch Details
The launch of Cosmos 549 took place on February 28, 1973, using a Kosmos-3M rocket. The launch site was Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key facility for Soviet space launches. The satellite was assigned the COSPAR ID 1973-010A, which is used to uniquely identify it in international space tracking systems. The launch was a significant event in the Soviet Union's space program, contributing to its extensive network of intelligence satellites.

### Historical Context
Cosmos 549 was launched during the Cold War era, a period marked by intense geopolitical tensions and technological competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. The satellite's operation was part of the Soviet Union's broader efforts to maintain a strategic advantage in electronic surveillance. The Tselina-OM program, of which Cosmos 549 was a part, was designed to monitor global communications and radar emissions, supporting military and intelligence objectives.

### Wikipedia Availability
Information about Cosmos 549 is available on Wikipedia in multiple languages, including Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian. This indicates the satellite's significance and the interest it has generated across different linguistic communities. The availability of information in these languages reflects the broader interest in Soviet space programs and their contributions to global intelligence gathering.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report