# Kosmos 1849

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3399260](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3399260)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_1849)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1849

## Summary
Kosmos 1849 was a Russian military early warning satellite launched on June 4, 1987. As part of the Soviet US-K series, it was designed to detect missile launches and was deployed into orbit using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Russian military early warning satellite (US-K class).
- **Launch Date:** June 4, 1987.
- **Launch Time:** 18:50:23.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Molniya-M (Soviet space launcher rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1987-048A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18083.
- **Alternate Identifiers:** Freebase ID `/m/0jwsbkl`; Wolfram Language Entity Code `Entity["Satellite", "18083"]`.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of Kosmos 1849?
A: Kosmos 1849 functioned as a Russian military early warning satellite. As part of the US-K series, its role was to monitor for potential missile launches.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 1849 launched?
A: Kosmos 1849 was launched on June 4, 1987, at 18:50:23. It was delivered to orbit using a Molniya-M rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.

### Q: What series does Kosmos 1849 belong to?
A: Kosmos 1849 belongs to the US-K class, which is a series of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 1849 serves as a specific historical example of the Soviet Union's continued investment in space-based defense capabilities during the late Cold War. Launched in 1987, it represents the operational infrastructure of the US-K (Oko) system, which was a critical component of Soviet strategic early warning networks. These satellites were essential for providing timely detection of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches, acting as a strategic deterrent. The use of the Molniya-M rocket and the specific launch site at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16 further contextualizes the standard deployment procedures for military satellites of this era. Kosmos 1849 is a data point in the extensive lineage of "Kosmos" designated satellites, a naming convention used to obfuscate the nature of Soviet military payloads while maintaining a catalog of orbital objects.

## Notable For
- Being a constituent unit of the **US-K series**, a dedicated class of early warning satellites.
- Launching atop the **Molniya-M**, a workhorse Soviet space launcher rocket.
- Its **specific launch coordinates and time**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16 at 18:50:23 on June 4, 1987.
- Classification under the **Kosmos designation**, a standard practice for Soviet military satellites.
- Having a distinct **Wolfram Language entity code** (Entity["Satellite", "18083"]), indicating its presence in computational knowledge bases.

## Body

### Mission Classification
Kosmos 1849 is classified as an instance of the **US-K** series. The US-K (also known as Oko) is a class of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites. These satellites are designed to detect the launch of ballistic missiles using infrared telescopes. As a military satellite, its specific operational details were designated under the ubiquitous "Kosmos" cover name used by the Soviet Union and Russia for military and scientific satellites.

### Launch Logistics
The satellite was launched on **June 4, 1987**. The launch took place at the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 16**. The precise time of the rocket launch event was recorded at **18:50:23**.

### Vehicle and Propulsion
The launch vehicle utilized to place Kosmos 1849 into orbit was the **Molniya-M**. This was a four-stage rocket derived from the R-7 Semyorka, frequently used for military and communication satellites requiring high-energy orbits, such as the Molniya orbits typically used by US-K satellites.

### Identifiers and Data
The satellite is tracked under the **COSPAR ID** `1987-048A` and the **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)** `18083`. The "A" in the COSPAR ID designates the primary payload of the launch. The satellite is also indexed in various knowledge systems, including Freebase (ID `/m/0jwsbkl`) and the Wolfram Language entity system.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report