# Kosmos 1851

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3397914](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3397914)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_1851)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-1851

## Summary
Kosmos 1851 is a Russian military early warning satellite launched in 1987 as part of the Soviet US-K series. It was designed for missile detection and was placed into orbit using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** US-K series (Soviet/Russian early warning satellites)
- **Launch Date:** June 12, 1987
- **Launch Time:** 07:40:28 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle:** Molniya-M
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18103
- **COSPAR ID:** 1987-050A
- **Instance of:** Military early warning satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Kosmos 1851?
A: Kosmos 1851 was designed as a military early warning satellite. Its primary function was to detect missile launches as part of the Soviet Union's US-K satellite constellation.

### Q: When was Kosmos 1851 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 12, 1987, at exactly 07:40:28 UTC. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

### Q: What type of rocket was used to deploy Kosmos 1851?
A: Kosmos 1851 was launched using a Molniya-M rocket, which was a standard Soviet space launcher for this class of satellite.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 1851 served as a critical component of the Soviet Union's strategic defense during the late Cold War era. As part of the US-K series, it provided the military with the capability to monitor and detect potential missile threats from space. The deployment of such satellites was essential for maintaining early warning infrastructure, ensuring that the Soviet military had advanced notice of any strategic launches. Its launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using the Molniya-M rocket reflects the established aerospace protocols and technology of the 1980s Soviet space program.

## Notable For
- **US-K Series Membership:** It is a specific instance of the US-K class, a long-running series of Soviet and Russian early warning satellites.
- **Strategic Launch Site:** The satellite was deployed from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a major hub for Soviet military space activity.
- **Technical Identification:** It is uniquely identified in space tracking catalogs by SCN 18103 and COSPAR ID 1987-050A.

## Body

### Mission and Classification
Kosmos 1851 is categorized as a Russian military early warning satellite. It belongs to the US-K class, which is a specific series of Soviet and Russian satellites designed to provide early detection of missile launches. 

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was successfully launched on June 12, 1987. The significant event of the rocket launch took place at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically at Site 43/4. The precise time of the launch was recorded as 07:40:28 UTC. The mission utilized the Molniya-M Soviet space launcher rocket to reach its intended orbit.

### Technical Specifications and Tracking
Kosmos 1851 is tracked and identified through several international and technical systems:
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18103
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1987-050A
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0jwsw_1
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "18103"]

The satellite is documented across multiple languages in digital knowledge bases, including English, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report