# Kosmos 394

> Soviet satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q53532](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53532)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_394)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-394

## Summary
Kosmos 394 was a Soviet satellite launched on February 9, 1971, known by the designation DS-P1-M No. 2. Manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office, it served as a target satellite for Soviet interceptor systems. It was deployed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos-3M rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Designation:** Kosmos 394 (alternate name: DS-P1-M No. 2)
- **Classification:** Instance of DS-P1-M (Soviet interceptor target satellite)
- **Launch Date:** February 9, 1971
- **Launch Time:** 18:48:48
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M
- **Manufacturer:** Pivdenne Design Office
- **COSPAR ID:** 1971-010A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 04922

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Kosmos 394?
A: Kosmos 394 was a DS-P1-M class satellite, which functioned as a target for Soviet interceptor satellites.

### Q: When and where was Kosmos 394 launched?
A: It was launched on February 9, 1971, at 18:48:48 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: Who manufactured Kosmos 394?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Pivdenne Design Office.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 394 plays a specific role in the history of military space technology as part of the DS-P1-M series. These satellites were designed as calibration and target vehicles for the development of Soviet anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons systems. By serving as a "target" in space, Kosmos 394 enabled the testing of co-orbital interceptors, a critical component of Cold War defense strategies. Its launch aboard the Kosmos-3M rocket highlights the reliance on this specific launch vehicle for deploying small military scientific and defense payloads during the early 1970s. The mission contributed to the broader "Kosmos" program, which encompassed a wide variety of Soviet military and scientific satellites.

## Notable For
- Being the second satellite in the DS-P1-M series (designated No. 2).
- Serving as a dedicated target for testing space interceptor capabilities.
- Launching from Site 132/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
- Being identified by the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "04922"]`.

## Body

### Mission and Classification
Kosmos 394 was a Soviet spacecraft designated as part of the Kosmos program. Its specific classification is an instance of the **DS-P1-M** model. This model is explicitly defined as a Soviet interceptor target satellite. It carried the serial number **DS-P1-M No. 2**.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **February 9, 1971**. The mission began at **18:48:48** UTC from the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132**.
*   **Rocket:** The launch vehicle used was a **Kosmos-3M**, a two-stage rocket derived from the R-14 ballistic missile, frequently used for Kosmos series satellites.

### Technical Identifiers
The spacecraft is tracked and identified by several international catalogs:
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1971-010A
*   **SATCAT (Satellite Catalog Number):** 04922
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/064ptlx

### Manufacturer
The design and manufacturing of Kosmos 394 were handled by the **Pivdenne Design Office** (also known as Yuzhnoye Design Bureau), a major Soviet/Ukrainian aerospace engineering bureau responsible for numerous satellites and rockets.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013