COSMOS 1956 (also known as Kosmos-1956) is a reconnaissance satellite launched on June 23, 1988, from the Plesetsk Missile and Space Complex using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle from Launch Pad LC41/1. The spacecraft, based on the Oblik bus with the Zenit configuration, has dimensions of 6 meters in length, 2.2 meters in diameter, and spans 6 meters across. It weighs 2655 kg both at launch and dry mass, powered by batteries. The satellite is owned by UNKS (Unclassified) and was manufactured by TSSKB for the purpose of reconnaissance with a film return type mission. Its shape consists of a sphere plus DCone and has an RCS (Reaction Control System) area of 15.9 square meters. The propulsion system includes motors 11D82M and S5.120 (maneuver module).