# Cosmos 796
**Wikidata**: [Q13566917](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566917)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-796

## Summary
Cosmos 796 is a Soviet military communications satellite launched in 1976 as part of the Strela-1M constellation. It was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome and is designated with the COSPAR ID 1976-008F. The satellite served as part of a low-orbit communication network for Soviet military operations.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: January 28, 1976  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1976-008F  
- **Satellite Class**: Strela-1M (military communications satellite)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Spacecraft Catalog Number**: 08612  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch at 10:39:01 UTC on January 28, 1976  
- **Operator**: Soviet Union (later Russia)  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 796?  
A: It was a military communications satellite designed to facilitate secure data transmission for Soviet armed forces as part of the Strela-1M network.  

### Q: Where was Cosmos 796 launched from?  
A: It was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a major Soviet/Russian spaceport.  

### Q: What rocket carried Cosmos 796 into orbit?  
A: It was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket, a reliable Soviet launch vehicle used for small payloads.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 796 was part of the Strela-1M system, a critical Soviet military communications network that enabled secure, low-latency data transmission for tactical operations. Unlike geostationary satellites, Strela-1M satellites operated in low Earth orbit (LEO), allowing for rapid signal relay without the delay of higher-altitude systems. This constellation supported Soviet military coordination during the Cold War, ensuring secure command and control links. The Kosmos-3M rocket's role in deploying these satellites also highlights the reliability of Soviet launch technology during this era.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Role**: Part of the Strela-1M network, a key Soviet/Russian military communications system.  
- **Launch Precision**: Deployed at 10:39:01 UTC on January 28, 1976, demonstrating the Kosmos-3M rocket's reliability.  
- **Low-Orbit Advantage**: Operated in LEO for faster signal relay compared to geostationary satellites.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- **Date**: January 28, 1976  
- **Time**: 10:39:01 UTC  
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132  
- **Vehicle**: Kosmos-3M rocket  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Satellite Class**: Strela-1M  
- **Catalog Number**: 08612  
- **COSPAR Designation**: 1976-008F  

### Operational Context  
- **Role**: Military communications  
- **Network**: Part of the Strela-1M constellation  
- **Operator**: Soviet Union (later Russia)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report