# Cosmos 1616
**Wikidata**: [Q12907449](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907449)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1616

## Summary
Cosmos 1616 (also known as Kosmos 1616) was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched in 1985 as part of the Yantar-4K2 class. It was designed for military surveillance and operated from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soyuz family.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: January 9, 1985 (source: Q6272367)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1985-002A (source: Q200386)  
- **Satellite Class**: Yantar-4K2, a Soviet/Russian spy satellite (source: Q6272367)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket (source: Q6272367)  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 (source: Q6272367)  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch at 10:45 UTC on January 9, 1985 (source: Q6272367)  
- **Aliases**: Kosmos 1616  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: Entity["Satellite", "15467"]  

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1616?  
A: Cosmos 1616 was a Yantar-4K2-class satellite, designed for military reconnaissance by the Soviet Union.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 1616 launched?  
A: It was launched on January 9, 1985, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Cosmos 1616?  
A: As a Yantar-4K2 satellite, its primary role was high-resolution photographic surveillance for military intelligence.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 1616 was part of the Soviet Union's Yantar satellite program, a critical component of Cold War-era military reconnaissance. These satellites provided high-resolution imagery for strategic intelligence, influencing geopolitical decision-making. The Yantar-4K2 series, including Cosmos 1616, represented advancements in surveillance technology, enabling more precise data collection. Its launch underscores the era's space race dynamics, where satellite espionage played a pivotal role in national security.  

## Notable For  
- **Military Role**: A key asset in Soviet military surveillance during the Cold War.  
- **Launch Precision**: Deployed via the reliable Soyuz-U rocket, a workhorse of Soviet space missions.  
- **Technical Legacy**: Part of the Yantar series, which evolved into later reconnaissance systems.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: January 9, 1985  
- **Time**: 10:45 UTC  
- **Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 (source: Q6272367)  

### Satellite Specifications  
- **Class**: Yantar-4K2, a film-return reconnaissance satellite (source: Q6272367)  
- **Design**: Optimized for high-resolution Earth imaging.  

### Mission Context  
- Part of the Soviet Union's efforts to maintain strategic surveillance capabilities.  
- Followed a lineage of Yantar satellites, with iterative improvements in imaging technology.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report