# Cosmos 805
**Wikidata**: [Q13566921](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13566921)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-805

## Summary
Cosmos 805 was a Soviet artificial satellite launched on February 20, 1976. It belonged to the Yantar-2K class, a series of Soviet spy satellites used for reconnaissance and Earth observation. The spacecraft was deployed into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Cosmos 805 was an instance of the **Yantar-2K** class, identified as a Soviet spy satellite and an artificial satellite of the Earth.
*   **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on **February 20, 1976**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** It was propelled by a **Soyuz-U** rocket, a universal design variant from the Soviet Union.
*   **Launch Site:** The launch originated from **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43**.
*   **COSPAR ID:** Its international satellite designator is **1976-018A**.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is registered under the number **08699**.
*   **Launch Event:** The specific rocket launch occurred at **14:01:02** on the date of launch.
*   **Alias:** The satellite is also known by the alias **Kosmos 805**.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 805?
A: Cosmos 805 was a Soviet artificial satellite specifically classified as a Yantar-2K spacecraft. It functioned as a spy satellite orbiting the Earth.

### Q: When was Cosmos 805 launched?
A: Cosmos 805 was launched on February 20, 1976. The launch event took place at 14:01:02.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 805?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket. This was a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket design utilized by the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 805 serves as a specific historical example of the Soviet Union's extensive reconnaissance program during the Cold War. As a component of the Yantar-2K class—the second major generation of Soviet photoreconnaissance satellites—it represents the technological evolution of space-based intelligence gathering. These satellites were critical for military observation, providing high-resolution imagery capabilities to the Soviet defense apparatus.

The entry highlights the operational scale of the Soviet space program, illustrating the frequent utilization of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the reliability of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, which was a workhorse for military and scientific payloads. By logging specific data such as the precise launch time (14:01:02) and site (Site 43), this entity contributes to the broader historical record of spaceflight logistics and aerospace engineering standards of the mid-1970s.

## Notable For
*   **Reconnaissance Classification:** It is explicitly classified as a Yantar-2K Soviet spy satellite, distinguishing it from civilian communication or scientific satellites.
*   **Precise Launch Data:** The entry retains highly specific logistical data, including the exact launch time down to the second (14:01:02).
*   **Launch Infrastructure:** It utilized the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, a primary launch facility for military satellites, rather than the more commonly cited Baikonur Cosmodrome.
*   **Nomenclature:** It operates under the "Cosmos" designation, a standard Soviet practice used to obscure the military nature of reconnaissance flights by assigning them generic numbers.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
Cosmos 805 is identified in space object registries by the COSPAR ID **1976-018A** and the Satellite Catalog Number **08699**. In the Wolfram Language, it is encoded as `Entity["Satellite", "08699"]`. The spacecraft is an instance of the **Yantar-2K** class, a platform designed for Soviet intelligence gathering. Its aliases include **Kosmos 805**, reflecting transliteration variations from the Russian name.

### Mission Profile
The satellite's primary recorded event is its deployment via a **rocket launch**. This mission was executed using the **Soyuz-U** launch vehicle, an expendable launch system derived from the R-7 Semyorka family. The launch successfully placed the artificial satellite into an orbit around the Earth.

### Launch Logistics
The launch took place at the **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43**, a spaceport located in northwestern Russia. The launch vehicle ignited on **February 20, 1976**, with the specific point in time recorded as **14:01:02**. The site and vehicle selection align with standard Soviet protocols for deploying military reconnaissance hardware during that era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report