# Cosmos 685
**Wikidata**: [Q12907775](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907775)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-685

## Summary
Cosmos 685 was a Soviet spy satellite launched on September 20, 1974. Designated as a Zenit 2M spacecraft, it was utilized for reconnaissance purposes by the Soviet Union. The mission was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Voskhod rocket.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 685 is an instance of the **Zenit 2M** class, identified as a Soviet spy satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **September 20, 1974**.
*   **Launch Time:** The launch occurred at **09:30:00** UTC.
*   **Launch Site:** The mission launched from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled into orbit by a **Voskhod** launch vehicle.
*   **COSPAR ID:** The international designation for this object is **1974-073A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command designation is **07445**.
*   **Alternative Name:** The satellite is also known by the alias **Kosmos 685**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 685?
A: Cosmos 685 was a Soviet spy satellite belonging to the Zenit 2M class. It was designed for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 685 launched?
A: Cosmos 685 was launched on September 20, 1974, at 09:30:00 UTC. It lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 685?
A: The satellite was launched using a Voskhod rocket, a Russian launch vehicle that was historically also used for crewed spacecraft missions.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 685 represents a specific mission within the extensive Soviet "Cosmos" program, which served as a blanket designation for a wide array of military and scientific satellites. Specifically, as a Zenit 2M satellite, Cosmos 685 played a role in Soviet military reconnaissance, contributing to the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the USSR during the Cold War. The mission highlights the operational use of the Voskhod launch vehicle—a system derived from the R-7 Semyorka family—which bridged the gap between earlier crewed missions and uncrewed military launches.

The mission is also significant for researchers tracking orbital debris and historical spaceflight logistics. The precise recording of its launch time and coordinates (Baikonur Site 31) provides valuable data for archivists reconstructing the operational tempo of the Soviet space program in the 1970s. Furthermore, the existence of multiple language entries for the satellite (Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian) indicates its recognition in global space tracking databases.

## Notable For
*   **Military Classification:** Being a confirmed member of the Zenit 2M class of Soviet spy satellites.
*   **Launch Infrastructure:** Utilizing the Voskhod launch vehicle, a derivative of the system used for Soviet crewed spaceflights.
*   **Specific Launch Complex:** Lifting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31, a pivotal site for R-7 family launches.
*   **Precise Tracking:** Having a distinct Wolfram Language entity code (`Entity["Satellite", "07445"]`), signifying its inclusion in computational databases.

## Body

### Classification and Type
Cosmos 685 is officially classified as an **instance of Zenit 2M**. According to structured property data, this class is defined as a "Soviet spy satellite." As with many Soviet military satellites, it was given the generic "Cosmos" designation to obscure its specific military reconnaissance function.

### Launch Event
The mission's significant event was a **rocket launch** that took place on **September 20, 1974**. The precise time of the launch was recorded as **09:30:00**. The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31** (also known as Site 31/6), a major launch pad at the Soviet Union's primary spaceport.

### Vehicle and Equipment
The satellite was delivered to orbit using a **Voskhod** launch vehicle.
*   **The Rocket:** The Voskhod is noted in related data as a "Russian launch vehicle" and a "series of Soviet crewed spacecraft," though for this mission, it functioned as the expendable booster system.
*   **The Payload:** As a Zenit 2M, the satellite was part of a series optimized for photoreconnaissance.

### Identifiers and Data
To differentiate this object from the thousands of others in the Cosmos series, specific identifiers are used:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1974-073A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 07445
*   **Aliases:** Kosmos 685

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report