# Kosmos 2232

> Russian military early warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3397862](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3397862)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_2232)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-2232

## Summary
Kosmos 2232 was a Russian military satellite deployed for early warning purposes. Launched on January 26, 1993, it was part of the Soviet and Russian US-K satellite series designed to detect missile launches. The satellite was delivered into orbit using a Molniya-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is an instance of the US-K class of satellites.
- **Launch Date:** January 26, 1993.
- **Launch Time:** 15:55:26.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Molniya-M (a Soviet space launcher rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1993-006A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 22321.
- **Mission Type:** Russian military early warning.
- **Alternate Names/Identifiers:** Known by its Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "22321"]` and Freebase ID `/m/0jwylyr`.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of Kosmos 2232?
A: Kosmos 2232 functioned as a Russian military early warning satellite. As part of the US-K series, its role was to detect and provide notification of missile launches.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 2232 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on January 26, 1993, at 15:55:26. It was propelled into space by a Molniya-M launch vehicle.

### Q: Where did the launch of Kosmos 2232 take place?
A: The launch originated from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, specifically from Site 16.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 2232 represents a specific data point in the timeline of Russian aerospace defense capabilities during the early 1990s. As a component of the US-K series, it illustrates the continuity of military space operations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. These satellites are critical to national defense infrastructures, serving as orbital sentinels capable of detecting ballistic missile launches from space. The use of the Molniya-M rocket for this deployment highlights the reliance on established, robust Soviet-era launch technologies to maintain this strategic early warning network. By occupying the COSPAR ID 1993-006A, it serves as a verifiable record in international space cataloging and tracking systems.

## Notable For
- **Military Classification:** Distinguished as a military asset rather than a scientific or commercial satellite.
- **Series Membership:** A documented unit of the US-K early warning satellite network.
- **Launch Configuration:** Utilized the Molniya-M carrier rocket, a standard vehicle for this class of satellite.
- **Historical Context:** Launched in early 1993, marking it as a post-Soviet Russian Federation aerospace activity.
- **Specific Launch Infrastructure:** Deployed from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Kosmos 2232 was an artificial satellite operated by Russia for military purposes. Structurally and functionally, it is defined as an "instance of" the US-K class of satellites. The US-K series (Oko) is a historically significant system of early warning satellites utilized by the Soviet Union and subsequently the Russian Federation to monitor for potential missile attacks.

### Launch Operations
The satellite undertook its significant event—a rocket launch—on January 26, 1993. The launch window was executed precisely at 15:55:26. The mission utilized the Molniya-M launch vehicle, a four-stage rocket derived from the R-7 Semyorka family, frequently employed for military and lunar missions.

The physical departure point for the mission was the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16. This launch site has been a primary hub for Russian military space launches.

### Technical Identifiers
In international space databases, Kosmos 2232 is tracked using specific identifiers to distinguish it from other orbital debris and active satellites.
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1993-006A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 22321
*   **Wolfram Language Entity:** Entity["Satellite", "22321"]

The satellite is recorded in academic and public knowledge bases, including Wikipedia (title: Kosmos 2232) with language availability in English, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report