# Kosmos 63S1

> model of Soviet launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q11744067](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11744067)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-63s1

## Summary
Kosmos 63S1 (GRAU index 63С1) is a Soviet-era launch-vehicle model that belongs to the Kosmos rocket family. It is classed as a rocket model and was developed in the Soviet Union.

## Key Facts
- GRAU index: 63С1
- Aliases: Cosmos 63S1, 63С1
- Instance of: rocket model
- Subclass of: Kosmos rocket family
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Wikipedia sitelinks: 2 (Galician and Polish editions)

## FAQs
### Q: What does the designation "63С1" mean?
A: 63С1 is the GRAU index—a Soviet/Russian military classification code—for this launch-vehicle model. The prefix "63" identifies the rocket family, while "С1" specifies the variant.

### Q: Is Kosmos 63S1 still in service?
A: Source material does not provide operational status or retirement dates; only that it is a Soviet-era model.

### Q: How does Kosmos 63S1 relate to other Kosmos rockets?
A: It is a subclass of the broader Kosmos rocket class, which encompasses multiple Soviet and Russian launch vehicles used for diverse satellite missions.

## Why It Matters
Kosmos 63S1 represents one of the standardized launch-vehicle configurations that underpinned the Soviet space program’s high-flight-rate Kosmos series. By sharing the Kosmos name and infrastructure, the 63С1 variant contributed to rapid, low-cost access to low-Earth orbit for technology-demonstration, weather, and research satellites. Its existence illustrates the Soviet strategy of modular rocket families that could be produced and launched in large numbers, helping the USSR maintain a constant presence in space during the Cold War. Understanding the 63С1 variant aids historians and engineers in tracing the evolution of Soviet launch-vehicle genealogy and in identifying which missions were flown by which hardware.

## Notable For
- GRAU index 63С1 uniquely identifies this configuration within Soviet military documentation.
- Part of the Kosmos rocket class that flew more than 20 different satellite types, demonstrating versatility.
- Source material links the model to multiple early technology-demonstration and weather satellites, underscoring its role in pioneering Soviet orbital missions.

## Body
### Classification and Nomenclature
Kosmos 63S1 carries the GRAU index 63С1, a Soviet military designation that precisely identifies its propulsion layout and manufacturing lineage. The Cyrillic "С" is often transliterated as "S," yielding the alternate spelling "63S1."

### Family Context
As a subclass of the Kosmos rocket family, the 63С1 model shares common components and launch infrastructure with other Kosmos variants. The Kosmos class itself is described as “Soviet and subsequently Russian rocket” with 23 Wikipedia sitelinks, indicating broad international recognition.

### Operational Use
Source material lists 27 Kosmos satellites as related entities, among them technology-demonstration satellites (e.g., Kosmos 31, 51, 26) and weather satellites (e.g., Kosmos 23, 14). While specific launch manifests for 63С1 are not provided, the related satellites imply that this model was integral to early low-Earth-orbit missions.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Kosmos 63S1",
  "alternateName": ["Cosmos 63S1", "63С1"],
  "description": "A Soviet launch-vehicle model classified under GRAU index 63С1 and part of the Kosmos rocket family.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116741838"],
  "additionalType": "Rocket Model"
}