# Cosmos 792
**Wikidata**: [Q12754002](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754002)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-792

## Summary  
Cosmos 792 (also known as Kosmos 792) is a Soviet‑launched Strela‑1M communications satellite. It was launched on 28 January 1976 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.

## Key Facts  
- **Satellite type:** Strela‑1M communications satellite (instance of Strela‑1M).  
- **Launch date:** 28 January 1976.  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket (Soviet‑Union‑origin).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑008B.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08608.  
- **Alternate name:** Kosmos 792.  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch at 10:39:01 UTC on 28 January 1976 from Plesetsk Site 132.  
- **Related classes:** Part of the Strela‑1M satellite series; launched by the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle class.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 792?  
A: Cosmos 792 was a Strela‑1M communications satellite designed to relay military and governmental messages across the Soviet Union’s territory.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 792 launched?  
A: It was launched on 28 January 1976 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, aboard a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.

### Q: How is Cosmos 792 identified in space catalogs?  
A: It carries the COSPAR designation 1976‑008B and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 08608.

### Q: What rocket was used to place Cosmos 792 into orbit?  
A: The satellite was launched on a Kosmos‑3M rocket, a workhorse of the Soviet launch fleet.

### Q: Does Cosmos 792 have any other names?  
A: Yes, it is also referred to as Kosmos 792.

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 792 represents a key element of the Soviet Union’s Cold‑War era communications infrastructure. As part of the Strela‑1M series, it contributed to a network that provided secure, rapid transmission of tactical and strategic data across vast distances, bolstering command‑and‑control capabilities. The launch demonstrated the reliability of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, which was instrumental in deploying numerous military and civilian payloads. Understanding Cosmos 792 helps illustrate how space technology was integrated into national defense strategies and how satellite constellations evolved to meet the demands of real‑time communication before the advent of modern digital networks. Its operational history also offers insight into the logistical and technical challenges of early low‑Earth‑orbit satellite deployments.

## Notable For  
- First‑generation Strela‑1M satellite providing store‑and‑forward communications.  
- Launched from the strategically important Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary Soviet launch site for military payloads.  
- Utilized the Kosmos‑3M rocket, a versatile and widely used launch vehicle of its era.  
- Assigned the catalog number 08608, making it traceable in historic orbital debris and tracking databases.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 792 (Kosmos 792) is a Soviet‑era Strela‑1M communications satellite. The Strela‑1M series was designed for military message relay, employing a store‑and‑forward architecture.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 28 January 1976, 10:39:01 UTC.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, a northern Russian launch complex.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket developed in the Soviet Union.  

### Identification  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑008B, indicating the eighth launch of 1976 and the second object cataloged from that launch.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08608, used by tracking agencies to monitor the object in orbit.  

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M, a class of low‑Earth‑orbit communication satellites.  
- **Related Classes:**  
  - *Strela‑1M* – the satellite family.  
  - *Kosmos‑3M* – the launch vehicle class.  

### Operational Role  
The satellite functioned as part of a larger constellation that enabled secure, rapid transmission of data for Soviet military and governmental users. Its presence in low Earth orbit allowed frequent passes over ground stations, ensuring timely message delivery.

### Legacy  
Cosmos 792’s launch contributed to the validation of the Kosmos‑3M launch system and the operational concepts of the Strela communications network, influencing later Soviet and Russian satellite designs.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report