# Kosmos 2491
**Wikidata**: [Q20804096](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20804096)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-2491

## Summary
Kosmos 2491 is a Soviet and Russian military satellite launched on December 25, 2013, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Rokot launch vehicle. It is part of the long-running Kosmos series of military satellites.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: December 25, 2013
- Launch time: 00:31:55 UTC
- Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133
- Launch vehicle: Rokot
- COSPAR ID: 2013-076E
- Alias: Cosmos 2491
- Instance of: Kosmos series (military satellites)
- Wikipedia languages available: Croatian (hr), Latvian (lv)

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is Kosmos 2491?
A: Kosmos 2491 is a military satellite belonging to the Kosmos series, a program for Soviet and Russian military spacecraft.

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 2491 launched?
A: It was launched at 00:31:55 UTC on December 25, 2013, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Kosmos 2491?
A: The satellite was deployed using a Rokot space launch vehicle.

### Q: How is Kosmos 2491 identified in space tracking databases?
A: Its unique identifier is the COSPAR ID 2013-076E.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 2491 exemplifies the continued operational capability of Russia's military space program through its use of the reliable Rokot launch system and its integration into the Kosmos satellite series. This launch, conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome—a strategically significant northern launch site—maintains the long-standing tradition of Soviet and Russian military satellite deployments dating back to the Cold War. The routine nature of this launch underscores the persistent role of the Kosmos series in supporting national security and surveillance infrastructure, demonstrating Russia's sustained investment in space-based military capabilities.

## Notable For
- Christmas Day launch (December 25, 2013), aligning with a public holiday
- Launch precision at 00:31:55 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133
- Deployment via the Rokot vehicle, utilizing decommissioned ICBM components
- One of the few Kosmos satellites with available Wikipedia entries in Croatian and Latvian

## Body
### Launch Profile
- **Date**: December 25, 2013  
- **Time**: 00:31:55 UTC  
- **Location**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133  
- **Vehicle**: Rokot space launch vehicle  
- **Event**: Rocket launch  

### Technical Classification
- **Series**: Kosmos (Soviet/Russian military satellites)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2013-076E  
- **Alternative name**: Cosmos 2491  

### Digital Presence
- **Wikipedia languages**: Croatian (hr), Latvian (lv)  
- **Sitelink count**: 2 (across documented language versions)  

### Mission Context
- Operates as part of the Kosmos series, which has deployed military satellites since the 1960s  
- Launched from Site 133 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a facility specializing in satellite deployments  
- Represents routine military satellite operations under the Russian space program

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report