# Cosmos 556
**Wikidata**: [Q12907742](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907742)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-556

## Summary
Cosmos 556 (also known as Kosmos 556) was a Soviet satellite launched on May 5, 1973. Designated as a Zenit-4MK class spacecraft, it was sent into orbit using a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Its mission is identified by the international designation COSPAR ID 1973-025A.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Name:** Cosmos 556 (Alias: Kosmos 556)
*   **Classification:** Zenit-4MK (Instance of)
*   **Launch Date:** May 5, 1973
*   **Launch Time:** 07:00:00
*   **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Voskhod
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1973-025A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 06446
*   **Significant Event:** Rocket launch

## FAQs
### Q: When was Cosmos 556 launched?
A: Cosmos 556 was launched on May 5, 1973, at 07:00:00 UTC.

### Q: What type of spacecraft was Cosmos 556?
A: It was an instance of the Zenit-4MK class of satellites.

### Q: What launch vehicle and site were used for Cosmos 556?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Voskhod rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 556 serves as a specific historical data point within the Soviet space program, illustrating the operational tempo and hardware utilization of the early 1970s. As a Zenit-4MK satellite, it represents a specific class of Soviet spacecraft technology deployed during this era. The mission highlights the use of the Voskhod launch vehicle, a system derived from the R-7 missile family, which was a workhorse for Soviet orbital insertions. Furthermore, its launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41 underscores the strategic importance of this location for Soviet satellite deployments. By cataloging this mission under the Cosmos designation, the Soviet Union continued its practice of classifying diverse satellite missions under a single, broad naming convention, masking the specific nature of individual flights such as this one.

## Notable For
*   **Specific Classification:** Identified specifically as a Zenit-4MK class satellite.
*   **Launch Configuration:** Utilized the Voskhod launch vehicle, a notable system in the Soviet space fleet.
*   **Precise Timing:** Launch was recorded with precise timestamp data (07:00:00).
*   **Site Utilization:** Launched from Site 41 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
*   **Cataloging:** Distinctly identified by COSPAR ID 1973-025A and Satellite Catalog Number 06446.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Cosmos 556 was launched on May 5, 1973. The mission was executed as a rocket launch event, placing the Zenit-4MK satellite into orbit. The specific point of departure was Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 41, a key infrastructure point for the Soviet space program.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft is classified as an instance of **Zenit-4MK**. The launch was facilitated by a **Voskhod** launch vehicle. The Voskhod system is related to the series of Soviet crewed spacecraft and launch vehicles developed by the Soviet Union.

### Identifiers and Records
The mission is tracked internationally under the following designations:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1973-025A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 06446

The entry is supported by references from Site Link Count data and Wikidata identifiers (specifically referenced via Q6272367 and Q200386). Wikipedia entries for this entity exist in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report