COSMOS 1981 (also known as Kosmos-1981) is a reconnaissance satellite launched on November 24, 1988, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC41/1 launch pad using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 6 meters in length and diameter of 2.2 meters with a span of 6 meters and a dry mass of 2655 kg. It was manufactured by TSSKB and is equipped with batteries for power supply and has a motor configuration including the 11D82M engine and S5.120 maneuver module. The satellite's mission involves photo reconnaissance using film return technology, and it features a shape described as a sphere plus a DCone, with an RCS (Reaction Control System) of 14.88. It is part of the Oblik series, specifically Oblik No. 389, operating under unknown ownership (UNKS).