# Cosmos 718
**Wikidata**: [Q13091149](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13091149)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-718

## Summary  
Cosmos 718 (also written Kosmos 718) was a Soviet Strela‑1M communications satellite launched on 28 February 1975 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. It carried the COSPAR designation 1975‑016H and the Satellite Catalog Number 07685.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 28 February 1975 (14:01:59 UTC).  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket, a work‑horse Soviet launch system.  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, Russia (then the Soviet Union).  
- **Satellite type:** Strela‑1M, a low‑Earth‑orbit military communications satellite.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975‑016H.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 07685.  
- **Alternate name:** Kosmos 718.  
- **Related classes:** Strela‑1M (satellite class) and Kosmos‑3M (rocket class).  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian.  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120yrv5_.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Cosmos 718?  
A: Cosmos 718 was a Soviet Strela‑1M communications satellite launched in February 1975 to support military communications.

### Q: When and how was Cosmos 718 launched?  
A: It was launched on 28 February 1975 at 14:01:59 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 aboard a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID and catalog number for Cosmos 718?  
A: Its COSPAR ID is 1975‑016H and its Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) is 07685.

### Q: What class of satellite does Cosmos 718 belong to?  
A: Cosmos 718 is an instance of the Strela‑1M satellite class, a series of low‑Earth‑orbit communication satellites.

### Q: Where can I find more information about Cosmos 718?  
A: Additional details are available in the Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, and Serbian Wikipedia editions, as well as through its Google Knowledge Graph entry (/g/120yrv5_) and Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite","07685"]`.

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 718 represents a key element of the Soviet Union’s Cold‑War era communications infrastructure. As a Strela‑1M satellite, it contributed to a constellation that provided secure, rapid data links for military and governmental users across the vast Soviet territory. Its launch demonstrated the reliability of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, which became one of the most frequently used rockets for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. By operating in a low‑Earth orbit, the satellite enabled relatively low‑latency communications, a technological advantage that supported both strategic command and tactical operations. Understanding Cosmos 718 helps illustrate the evolution of space‑based communications, the integration of launch and satellite technologies in the 1970s, and the broader geopolitical context of space utilization during that period.

## Notable For  
- First‑generation Strela‑1M satellite launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  
- Utilized the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle, highlighting the rocket’s operational maturity.  
- Assigned the COSPAR identifier 1975‑016H, linking it to the international satellite cataloging system.  
- Cataloged under SCN 07685, making it traceable in global space‑object databases.  
- Known under multiple language Wikipedia entries, reflecting its recognition across different regions.

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 718 (Kosmos 718) is a Soviet‑built Strela‑1M communications satellite. The Strela‑1M series was designed for low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) military communications, providing store‑and‑forward data relay capabilities.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 28 February 1975, 14:01:59 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket developed by the Soviet Union.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, located in north‑western Russia.  
- **Significant Event:** Recorded as a “rocket launch” event at the specified time and location.

### Classification & Identifiers  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M (satellite class).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975‑016H – the international designation used for tracking.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 07685 – the numeric identifier in the U.S. Space‑Track database.  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 718.  

### Technical Context  
- **Launch Vehicle Family:** Kosmos‑3M, a reliable workhorse for placing small to medium payloads into LEO.  
- **Related Classes:** The satellite belongs to the Strela‑1M class, while the launch vehicle belongs to the Kosmos‑3M class.  

### Documentation & References  
- **Wikidata Sources:** Provide the core data (SCN, COSPAR ID, launch date, launch site, vehicle).  
- **Academic Source:** Q6272367 (reference for most structured properties).  
- **Language Resources:** Wikipedia pages in Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, and Serbian.  
- **External IDs:** Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/120yrv5_` and Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite","07685"]`.  

### Legacy  
Cosmos 718’s successful deployment contributed to the operational readiness of the Strela communications network, reinforcing the Soviet Union’s ability to maintain secure, rapid data exchange across its extensive geographic area. Its launch also validated the Kosmos‑3M’s capability to reliably deliver payloads to LEO, a performance that underpinned many subsequent Soviet and Russian satellite missions.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report