# Cosmos 858
**Wikidata**: [Q12754032](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754032)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-858

## Summary
Cosmos 858 was a Soviet communications satellite launched on September 29, 1976. Designated as a Strela-2M class spacecraft, it was deployed into orbit using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 858 is an instance of the Strela-2M model, a class of Soviet/Russian communications satellites.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on September 29, 1976.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by a Kosmos-3M rocket.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
- **Launch Time:** The precise time of the rocket launch was 07:04:01.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1976-098A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command (SCN) tracking number is 09443.
- **Also Known As:** The satellite is aliased as "Kosmos 858".

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 858?
A: Cosmos 858 was a Strela-2M class satellite, which functions as a Soviet/Russian communications satellite.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 858 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on September 29, 1976, at 07:04:01 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 858?
A: Cosmos 858 was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Russian launch vehicle commonly used for Kosmos series satellites.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 858 serves as a specific historical data point in the extensive Soviet "Kosmos" program, which encompassed a wide array of military and scientific satellites. As a unit of the Strela-2M class, it represents the operational communications infrastructure maintained by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The launch demonstrates the reliability and frequent utilization of the Kosmos-3M launch vehicle during the mid-1970s.

The detailed tracking of this entity—identified by both its COSPAR ID (1976-098A) and Satellite Catalog Number (09443)—highlights the rigorous cataloging required for space situational awareness. Launched from the strategically vital Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Cosmos 858 contributed to the network of low-earth orbit communications capabilities that predated modern geostationary systems.

## Notable For
- **Strela-2M Classification:** It is a confirmed unit of the Strela-2M communications satellite series.
- **Precise Launch Data:** The launch is distinctively recorded down to the second (07:04:01), providing precise data for orbital history.
- **Site Specificity:** The launch specifically utilized Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key pad for the Kosmos-3M vehicle.
- **Dual Identification:** The entity is tracked in major databases via both COSPAR (international) and SCN (US military) identifiers.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Cosmos 858 was introduced into the Soviet space inventory as a communications platform. It belongs to the **Strela-2M** class of satellites. Like many Soviet satellites of the era, it was designated under the broad "Kosmos" umbrella, which was used to obscure the specific military or functional nature of many spacecraft.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on **September 29, 1976**.
- **Vehicle:** The launch was executed using a **Kosmos-3M** rocket, a two-stage light-lift launch vehicle derived from the R-14 ballistic missile.
- **Location:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132**, a primary launch facility located in northwest Russia.
- **Timeline:** The significant event (rocket launch) is timestamped at **07:04:01** on the date of launch.

### Identifiers and Tracking
To facilitate international and military tracking, Cosmos 858 is assigned the following permanent designations:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976-098A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 09443

### Associated Systems
The satellite is linked to the **Strela-2M** model, which is categorized under Soviet/Russian communications technology. The launch vehicle, **Kosmos-3M**, is a Russian rocket noted for its long service history, having launched hundreds of Kosmos-series satellites.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report