# Ekran 18
**Wikidata**: [Q16943281](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16943281)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ekran-18

## Summary
Ekran 18 is a geostationary satellite that was launched by the Soviet Union on May 6, 1988, using a Proton-K carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- Is an Ekran-class geostationary satellite (instance_of: Ekran)
- Has the COSPAR ID 1988-036A (cospar_id: 1988-036A)
- Was launched on May 6, 1988 (launch_date: 1988-05-06)
- Used a Proton-K carrier rocket for launch (launch_vehicle: Proton-K)
- Was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 (start_point: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200)
- Features a Blok-DM space tug (space_tug: Blok-DM)
- Has the satellite number 19090 (scn: 19090)

## FAQs
### Q: When was Ekran 18 launched?
A: It was launched on May 6, 1988.

### Q: What type of rocket was used to launch Ekran 18?
A: A Proton-K carrier rocket was used for the launch.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for Ekran 18?
A: The COSPAR ID is 1988-036A.

## Why It Matters
Ekran 18 represents an important part of Soviet/Russian space communications infrastructure, serving as a geostationary satellite that would have provided communication services. As part of the Ekran series, it contributed to the broader network of Soviet communications satellites, playing a role in the country's telecommunications capabilities during the late Cold War period. The satellite's deployment from Baikonur Cosmodrome, a major space launch facility, highlights the technological capabilities and strategic importance of Soviet space programs during this era.

## Notable For
- Was the 19090th satellite in the Ekran series (scn: 19090)
- Operated as a geostationary communications satellite
- Utilized a Blok-DM space tug as part of its launch configuration
- Represents the Soviet Union's continued development of communications satellite technology
- Was launched from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Ekran 18 is classified as an Ekran-class geostationary satellite with the COSPAR identification number 1988-036A. The satellite was assigned the satellite number 19090 (scn: 19090), indicating its position within the Ekran series of communications satellites.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on May 6, 1988, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200. The Proton-K carrier rocket served as the launch vehicle, which is a heavy-lift rocket developed by the Soviet Union and later Russia. The launch utilized a Blok-DM space tug as part of the launch configuration.

### Operational Context
As part of the Ekran series, Ekran 18 was designed for communications purposes, providing services that would have been critical for the Soviet Union's telecommunications infrastructure. The satellite's deployment from Baikonur, one of the world's oldest and most significant space launch sites, underscores the strategic importance of Soviet space programs during this period.

### Classification and Relationships
Ekran 18 belongs to the Ekran class of geostationary satellites, which were specifically designed for communications applications. The satellite's relationship to the Proton-K rocket and Blok-DM space tug indicates the technical complexity and capabilities of Soviet launch systems during the late 1980s. The satellite's classification as a communications satellite places it within the broader context of Soviet space technology development during the Cold War era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report