# Cosmos 1613
**Wikidata**: [Q12753359](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753359)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1613

## Summary
Cosmos 1613 (also known as Kosmos 1613) was a Soviet Zenit 8 military spy satellite launched on November 29, 1984. It formed part of the Soviet Union's space-based reconnaissance program, utilizing a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
- **Instance**: Zenit 8 class of military spy satellite  
- **Launch Date**: 29 November 1984 at 14:00:00 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket variant  
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1984-121A  
- **SCN ID**: 15414  
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr)  
- **Country of Operation**: Soviet Union  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Cosmos 1613?  
A: As a Zenit 8 satellite, it served as a military reconnaissance platform for Soviet intelligence gathering.  

### Q: What rocket launched Cosmos 1613?  
A: It was deployed using a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket family.  

### Q: Where was Cosmos 1613 launched from?  
A: The satellite lifted off from Site 43/4 at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a primary Soviet military launch facility.  

### Q: How does Cosmos 1613 differ from other Zenit satellites?  
A: It shares the Zenit 8 designation but is distinctively identified by its SCN 15414 and 1984-121A COSPAR ID.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1613 exemplifies the Soviet Union's Cold War-era satellite reconnaissance capabilities, enabling real-time intelligence collection for military and geopolitical purposes. Its launch from Plesetsk underscored the strategic importance of this cosmodrome in Soviet operations, while its Zenit 8 class represented a standardized, mass-produced design for surveillance missions. The satellite contributed to broader technological competition in space between superpowers, influencing subsequent advancements in orbital imaging and reconnaissance methodology.  

## Notable For  
- Zenit 8 lineage: A standardized military satellite class designed for optical reconnaissance  
- Soyuz-U dependency: Highlighting the Soyuz-U rocket's role in Soviet orbital security missions  
- Plesetsk launch site usage: One of numerous spy satellites deployed from this critical military cosmodrome  
- Trilingual Wikipedia presence: Reflecting its documented history in Balkan and Slavic sources  

## Body  
### Launch Profile  
- Date: 29 November 1984  
- Time: 14:00:00 UTC  
- Location: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4  
- Vehicle: Soyuz-U (Universal variant)  
- Event Classification: Rocket launch  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Class**: Zenit 8 (military optical reconnaissance satellite)  
- **Registry ID**: SCN 15414  
- **COSPAR Designation**: 1984-121A  
- **Country**: Soviet Union  

### Nomenclature  
- Primary Designation: Cosmos 1613 (Soviet naming convention for classified satellites)  
- Alternative Alias: Kosmos 1613 (used in Macedonian/Serbian contexts)  

### Documentation  
- **Wikipedia Coverage**:  
  - Macedonian (mk)  
  - Serbo-Croatian (sh)  
  - Serbian (sr)  
- **External Catalogs**: Wolfram Entity Code `Entity["Satellite", "15414"]`  

### Launch Context  
- Predecessor/Successor: Part of sequential Zenit 8 missions  
- Operational Significance: Soviet military reconnaissance during 1980s  
- Notable Features: Consistent with Zenit 8 standard payload configuration

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report