# Cosmos 940
**Wikidata**: [Q13566939](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566939)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-940

## Summary  
Cosmos 940 (also written Kosmos 940) was a Soviet‑era Strela‑1M communications satellite launched on 24 August 1977 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. Its international designator is 1977‑079B and it is catalogued as satellite 10286.

## Key Facts  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1977‑079B【source】  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 10286【source】  
- **Launch date and time:** 24 August 1977 at 18:20 UTC【source】  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, Russia (formerly Soviet Union)【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Strela‑1M (a Soviet communications satellite series)【source】  
- **Alternative name:** Kosmos 940 (alias)【source】  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)【source】  
- **Wolfram Language entity code:** Entity["Satellite", "10286"]【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Cosmos 940?  
**A:** Cosmos 940 was a Soviet Strela‑1M communications satellite launched in August 1977 as part of the USSR’s military communications constellation.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 940 launched?  
**A:** It lifted off on 24 August 1977 at 18:20 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome’s Site 132, using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.  

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID and catalog number for Cosmos 940?  
**A:** Its international designator is 1977‑079B and it is listed in the satellite catalog as 10286.  

### Q: Which launch vehicle carried Cosmos 940 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Kosmos‑3M rocket, a workhorse of the Soviet space program.  

### Q: What satellite class does Cosmos 940 belong to?  
**A:** Cosmos 940 is an instance of the Strela‑1M class, a series of low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellites.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 940 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s extensive low‑Earth‑orbit communications network during the Cold War. As a Strela‑1M satellite, it contributed to secure, rapid data transmission for military and governmental users, enhancing command‑and‑control capabilities across the USSR’s vast territory. Its launch from Plesetsk using the reliable Kosmos‑3M vehicle illustrates the operational maturity of Soviet launch infrastructure in the late 1970s. Understanding Cosmos 940 helps trace the evolution of space‑based communications technology and provides context for the strategic importance of satellite constellations in geopolitical affairs.  

## Notable For  
- First‑generation Strela‑1M satellite launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  
- Utilised the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, a widely used Soviet rocket for small payloads.  
- Assigned the COSPAR identifier 1977‑079B, linking it to the global satellite tracking system.  
- Catalogued as satellite 10286, enabling precise tracking and historical research.  
- Known under the alternate name Kosmos 940, reflecting the Soviet naming convention for military satellites.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 940 (Kosmos 940) is classified as a **Strela‑1M** satellite, a series designed for low‑Earth‑orbit communications. The satellite’s primary purpose was to support the Soviet Union’s military communication network, providing secure, rapid data links between ground stations and mobile units.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 24 August 1977, 18:20 UTC.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132 (Russia, formerly Soviet Union).  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket, a two‑stage launch system commonly employed for payloads up to ~300 kg.  
- **Event:** Recorded as a **rocket launch** event at the specified time and location.  

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1977‑079B – the international designator used for cataloguing space objects.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 10286 – the numeric identifier in the U.S. Space‑Track database.  
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "10286"]` – a programmatic reference for computational use.  

### Classification & Relationships  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M – indicating its design lineage and functional role.  
- **Related Classes:**  
  - **Strela‑1M** – the satellite family.  
  - **Kosmos‑3M** – the launch vehicle class, a Russian (formerly Soviet) rocket.  

### Language and Documentation  
Cosmos 940 appears in three Wikipedia language editions: Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr), reflecting its relevance in Eastern European space history documentation.  

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*All statements are derived from the provided source material and referenced accordingly.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report