# Cosmos 976
**Wikidata**: [Q12754091](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754091)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-976

## Summary
Cosmos 976 was a Soviet satellite launched on January 10, 1978, designated as part of the long-running Kosmos program. It was a Strela-1M class spacecraft deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket. The mission is officially identified by the international designation 1978-005A and the satellite catalog number 10581.

## Key Facts
*   **Official Designation:** Cosmos 976 (COSPAR ID: 1978-005A).
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 10581.
*   **Classification:** Instance of Strela-1M.
*   **Launch Date:** January 10, 1978.
*   **Launch Time:** 20:51:00.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M.
*   **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
*   **Operator:** Soviet Union.
*   **Wolfram Language Entity:** Entity["Satellite", "10581"].

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 976?
A: Cosmos 976 was a Strela-1M class satellite. These satellites were typically launched in groups to maintain a communications constellation.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 976 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on January 10, 1978, at 20:51:00 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: What rocket was used to deliver Cosmos 976?
A: It was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket, a two-stage launch vehicle commonly used for Soviet military and scientific satellites during that era.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 976 represents a specific data point within the extensive Soviet space program, contributing to the historical record of the Strela-1M satellite series. As an instance of the Strela-1M class, it played a role in the strategic communications infrastructure of the Soviet Union, which relied on constellations of low-earth orbit satellites. The launch illustrates the operational tempo of the late 1970s Soviet space efforts, specifically utilizing the reliable Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from the active Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

For space historians and orbital analysts, the entry provides precise tracking data, confirmed by references such as the Space Command (SCN) number 10581. The preservation of its launch specifics, such as the exact site (132) and time (20:51:00), serves as a verifiable record for understanding the deployment patterns of the Strela-1M system and the overall utilization of the Kosmos-3M rocket lineage.

## Notable For
*   Being a verified unit of the **Strela-1M** satellite class.
*   Utilizing the **Kosmos-3M** launch vehicle, a workhorse of the Soviet space program.
*   Launching from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132**, a key historical launch infrastructure.
*   Maintaining a distinct record in satellite databases via **COSPAR ID 1978-005A** and **SCN 10581**.

## Body

### Mission Specifications
Cosmos 976 was launched under the Soviet Kosmos program, a designation used for a wide variety of Soviet satellites, including military and scientific spacecraft. The specific classification for this entity is the Strela-1M class.

### Launch Details
The satellite successfully achieved orbit on January 10, 1978. The launch event was executed at 20:51:00. The departure point for the mission was the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically Site 132. This site was a frequent launch pad for the Kosmos-3M vehicle.

### Vehicle and Origin
The launch vehicle responsible for placing Cosmos 976 into orbit was the Kosmos-3M. This rocket is identified in records as a Russian (and formerly Soviet Union) launch vehicle. The use of the Kosmos-3M was standard for the Strela-1M constellation replenishment.

### Identification Codes
The international community tracks this object using the COSPAR ID 1978-005A. In the US Space Command catalog, it is filed under the number 10581. The entity is also recognized in computational databases, such as the Wolfram Language, under the code `Entity["Satellite", "10581"]`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report