# Cosmos 1916
**Wikidata**: [Q12907525](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907525)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-1916

## Summary
Cosmos 1916 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite launched on February 3, 1988. Identified as a Yantar-4K2 class spacecraft, it was deployed via a Soyuz-U rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to fulfill spy satellite operations.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Type:** Yantar-4K2 (Soviet/Russian spy satellite).
*   **Launch Date:** February 3, 1988.
*   **Launch Time:** 12:14:56.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U (Universal variant).
*   **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1988-007A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18823.
*   **Alternate Name:** Kosmos 1916.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 1916?
A: Cosmos 1916 was a Yantar-4K2 class satellite, which functions as a Soviet/Russian spy satellite used for reconnaissance.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 1916 launched?
A: It was launched on February 3, 1988, at 12:14:56, using a Soyuz-U rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for Cosmos 1916?
A: The international COSPAR ID assigned to this satellite is 1988-007A.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 1916 represents a specific mission within the extensive Soviet "Kosmos" program, which historically served as a catch-all designation for a wide variety of scientific and military satellites. By analyzing Cosmos 1916, researchers gain insight into the operational capabilities of the Soviet space program in the late 1980s, specifically regarding military reconnaissance.

As an instance of the Yantar-4K2 platform, this satellite illustrates the technological standards for Soviet optical reconnaissance at the time. The mission also highlights the reliability and ubiquity of the Soyuz-U rocket, noted as a "Universal" variant, which served as a workhorse for deploying these critical defense assets. Furthermore, the launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 underscores the ongoing utilization of this historic launch complex for orbital insertions during the final years of the Soviet Union.

## Notable For
*   **Classification:** Being a distinct unit of the Yantar-4K2 class, a dedicated platform for Soviet/Russian espionage.
*   **Launch Precision:** Having a recorded launch time precise to the second (12:14:56).
*   **Universal Launch Vehicle:** Utilizing the Soyuz-U, a variant explicitly described as "Universal" within the Soyuz rocket family.
*   **Designation:** Operating under the "Kosmos" umbrella, a naming convention used to obfuscate the true nature of military satellites.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Cosmos 1916 was an artificial satellite operating under the Soviet space program. Structurally and functionally, it is classified as an "instance of" the **Yantar-4K2** class. This class is defined within the source material as a Soviet and Russian spy satellite, indicating that Cosmos 1916's primary mission was reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **February 3, 1988**. The specific point in time for the rocket launch event was recorded as **12:14:56**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The payload was delivered to orbit using a **Soyuz-U** rocket. The Soyuz-U is described as a "Universal" variant of the Soyuz rocket design, developed and operated by the Soviet Union.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**, a major spaceport facility.

### Identifiers and Aliases
The satellite is tracked internationally using specific identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1988-007A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18823
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is also referred to as **Kosmos 1916**.

### Contextual Data
According to the structured properties, the entity is associated with a Wolfram Language entity code: `Entity["Satellite", "18823"]`. The Wikipedia pages for this entity are available in Macedonian (mk), Serbo-Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report