# Kosmos 291

> Soviet anti-satellite weapon target satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q13417070](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13417070)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_291)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-291

## Summary
Kosmos 291 was a Soviet satellite launched on August 6, 1969, designated specifically as a target for anti-satellite weapons. As part of the broader Kosmos series, it was deployed using a Tsyklon-2 launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to support military testing in low Earth orbit.

## Key Facts
- **COSPAR ID:** 1969-066A
- **Launch Date:** August 6, 1969, at 05:40:03 UTC
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90
- **Launch Vehicle:** Tsyklon-2 (Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch vehicle)
- **Function:** Anti-satellite weapon target satellite
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 04058
- **Instance Of:** Kosmos (series of Soviet and Russian military satellites)
- **Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "04058"] (Wolfram Language)

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Kosmos 291?
A: Kosmos 291 served as a target satellite for Soviet anti-satellite weapon tests. It was launched to be intercepted or engaged by other weapon systems during military experiments.

### Q: When and how was Kosmos 291 launched?
A: It was launched on August 6, 1969, at 05:40:03 UTC. The satellite was delivered into orbit by a Tsyklon-2 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90.

### Q: What is the significance of the name "Kosmos 291"?
A: The name identifies it as a member of the Kosmos series, a classification used for a wide array of Soviet and Russian military satellites. This designation was commonly used to obfuscate the specific military nature of spacecraft during the Soviet era.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 291 represents a specific period of the Cold War space race focused on the militarization of space. As a target satellite, it played a functional role in the development of Soviet anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities. These tests were critical for the Soviet military to establish countermeasures against potential adversary satellites, demonstrating the technological ability to track, intercept, and potentially destroy objects in orbit. The mission highlights the dual-use nature of space technology during this era, where launch vehicles and orbital platforms were tested for both scientific and strategic military applications.

The mission is also notable for its use of the Tsyklon-2 launch vehicle, a robust Soviet/Ukrainian rocket frequently employed for military payloads. Launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90, Kosmos 291 contributed to the extensive dataset of the Kosmos program, which encompassed over 2,000 satellites. While the specific details of the interception test involving Kosmos 291 are part of the broader history of the "Istrebitel Sputnikov" (Fighter Satellite) program, the launch itself stands as a verifiable record of Soviet space defense activities in 1969.

## Notable For
- **Military Role:** Specifically designed as a target for anti-satellite weapon systems.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Utilized the Tsyklon-2, a notable Soviet/Ukrainian expendable launch system.
- **Series Membership:** Part of the Kosmos series, the most extensive series of military satellites in history.
- **Precise Launch Record:** Documented with an exact launch time down to the second (05:40:03).

## Body
### Mission Design and Function
Kosmos 291 is officially classified as a Soviet anti-satellite weapon target satellite. Its primary mission function was to serve as a cooperative or non-cooperative target for the testing of Soviet anti-satellite interceptors. These tests were part of a broader strategic initiative to develop capabilities to neutralize enemy satellites.

### Launch Specifications
The satellite was successfully launched on **August 6, 1969**. The launch event is recorded with high precision, occurring at **05:40:03** UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The mission utilized the **Tsyklon-2**, an expendable launch vehicle developed by the Soviet Union and Ukraine. This vehicle was a derivative of the R-36 intercontinental ballistic missile and was frequently used for military payloads.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90**, a major spaceport located in Kazakhstan.

### Classification and Identifiers
Kosmos 291 falls under the **Kosmos** class of satellites. This series was used as a cover designation for a vast number of Soviet military satellites, masking the true nature of their missions.
- **International Designators:** The satellite carries the COSPAR ID **1969-066A** and the Satellite Catalog Number **04058**.
- **Language Entities:** The entity is recognized in multiple languages, including English, Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Croatian/Serbian (sh), reflecting its documentation in various international space databases.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report