# Cosmos 1715
**Wikidata**: [Q12753411](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12753411)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1715

## Summary
Cosmos 1715 was a Soviet military spy satellite launched on January 8, 1986. Identified as a Zenit 8 class spacecraft, it was deployed via a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to fulfill reconnaissance objectives.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 1715 is an instance of a Zenit 8, a class of military spy satellite utilized by the Soviet Union.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on January 8, 1986.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled into orbit by a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal design variant of the Soyuz rocket family.
- **Launch Site:** The launch took place at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4.
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designation is 1986-001A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command (SCN) tracking number is 16447.
- **Significant Event:** The rocket launch occurred precisely at 11:25:00 on the date of deployment.
- **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as Kosmos 1715.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1715?
A: Cosmos 1715 was a Zenit 8 class military spy satellite used by the Soviet Union for reconnaissance.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 1715 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on January 8, 1986, using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4 at 11:25:00.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for Cosmos 1715?
A: The COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) international identifier for this satellite is 1986-001A.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1715 serves as a specific historical example of the Soviet Union's extensive military space program during the Cold War era. As a Zenit 8 satellite, it represents the sophisticated reconnaissance capabilities operational in the mid-1980s, tasked with gathering intelligence through overhead observation. The mission highlights the reliance of the Soviet military on the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, a workhorse rocket noted for its "Universal" design, which supported a vast array of missions from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. By cataloging this specific launch—down to the precise minute and launch pad (Site 43/4)—space historians can track the operational tempo and logistics of Soviet defense infrastructure. The "Cosmos" designation itself is significant, as it was the standard Soviet method used to obscure the true military nature of reconnaissance flights from public scrutiny, grouping them with scientific satellites under a generic name.

## Notable For
- Being a designated **Zenit 8** military spy satellite, a specific class for Soviet reconnaissance.
- Launching on the **Soyuz-U**, one of the most frequently used launch vehicles in space history.
- Being tracked under the **Satellite Catalog Number 16447** and COSPAR ID **1986-001A**.
- Deployment from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**, a primary launch complex for military payloads.
- Operating under the standard Soviet "Cosmos" naming convention used to classify defense-related spacecraft.

## Body
### Classification and Designation
Cosmos 1715 is formally classified as an **instance_of** a Zenit 8 satellite. The Zenit 8 class is defined in the source material as a military spy satellite used by the Soviet Union. Like many Soviet military satellites, it operated under the "Cosmos" (or "Kosmos") designation to standardize its public identity. Its technical identifier in the Wolfram Language entity system is `Entity["Satellite", "16447"]`.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was launched on **January 8, 1986**. The launch window was precise, with the significant event (rocket launch) occurring at **11:25:00**.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The mission utilized the **Soyuz-U**, a variant described as a "Universal" design within the Soyuz rocket family.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43/4**, a key Soviet spaceport located in northwest Russia.

### Technical Identifiers
To facilitate global tracking and cataloging, Cosmos 1715 was assigned specific identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1986-001A (indicating it was the first major payload launched in 1986).
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 16447.
- **Wikipedia Languages:** The entity has dedicated pages in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report