# Cosmos 834
**Wikidata**: [Q12907813](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12907813)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-834

## Summary  
Cosmos 834 (also written Kosmos 834) was a Soviet‑built Zenit 2M optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 24 June 1976 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 aboard a Soyuz‑U launch vehicle. It carried the international designations COSPAR 1976‑058A and SCN 08914.

## Key Facts  
- **Mission type:** Soviet optical spy (reconnaissance) satellite – class Zenit 2M【source】.  
- **Launch date & time:** 24 June 1976 at 07:10:01 UTC【source】.  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43 in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic【source】.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Soyuz‑U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz family【source】.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑058A【source】.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08914【source】.  
- **Alternative name:** Kosmos 834 (alias)【source】.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr)【source】.  
- **Wolfram Language entity code:** `Entity["Satellite", "08914"]`【source】.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Cosmos 834?  
**A:** Cosmos 834 was a Soviet Zenit 2M optical reconnaissance satellite launched in June 1976 to collect photographic intelligence during the Cold War.  

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 834 launched?  
**A:** It lifted off on 24 June 1976 at 07:10:01 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, using a Soyuz‑U launch vehicle.  

### Q: What launch vehicle carried Cosmos 834 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Soyuss‑U rocket, a universal variant of the long‑standing Soyuz family.  

### Q: How is Cosmos 834 identified in international satellite catalogs?  
**A:** It is listed under COSPAR ID 1976‑058A and Satellite Catalog Number 08914.  

### Q: Does Cosmos 834 have any other names?  
**A:** Yes, it is also known by the alias “Kosmos 834.”  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 834 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s extensive Zenit series of optical reconnaissance satellites, which were pivotal for gathering high‑resolution imagery of strategic targets during the Cold War. By employing the Zenit 2M platform, the mission contributed to the Soviet intelligence apparatus, enabling the collection of photographic data that informed military planning and diplomatic negotiations. Its launch from Plesetsk using the Soyuz‑U vehicle underscores the reliability and flexibility of the Soyuz family for placing payloads into low‑Earth orbit, a capability that continues to underpin modern Russian space operations. Understanding Cosmos 834 helps illustrate the technological and geopolitical context of 1970s space‑based surveillance, shedding light on how orbital assets were leveraged for national security and how they influenced subsequent satellite design and launch practices.

## Notable For  
- Being a Zenit 2M class optical reconnaissance satellite, part of a prolific Soviet spy‑satellite lineage.  
- Launch from the high‑latitude Plesetsk Cosmodrome, highlighting Soviet use of multiple launch sites.  
- Utilisation of the Soyuz‑U launch vehicle, demonstrating the adaptability of the Soyuz family for varied payloads.  
- Assignment of the COSPAR identifier 1976‑058A and SCN 08914, linking it to global satellite tracking databases.  
- Presence in multiple Wikipedia language editions (mk, sh, sr), indicating broader historical interest.

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 834 (alias Kosmos 834) was a Soviet‑operated reconnaissance satellite built to the Zenit 2M specification. Zenit 2M satellites were designed for optical imaging, providing photographic intelligence for the USSR’s military and strategic planners.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 24 June 1976, 07:10:01 UTC.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43, a northern launch complex used for polar and high‑inclination orbits.  
- **Vehicle:** Soyuz‑U, a universal variant of the Soyuz launch system, known for its reliability across a range of payload masses.

### Satellite Classification  
- **Instance of:** Zenit 2M (optical reconnaissance platform).  
- **Purpose:** Spy/photographic reconnaissance, part of the broader Soviet “Kosmos” series of military satellites.

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑058A – the international designation assigned by the Committee on Space Research.  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 08914 – the tracking number used by US and international space‑object catalogs.  
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "08914"]` – a programmatic reference for computational use.

### Related Systems  
- **Zenit 2M class:** A family of Soviet spy satellites sharing common bus architecture and imaging payloads.  
- **Soyuz‑U rocket:** A variant of the Soyuz launch vehicle family, employed for a wide range of orbital missions, including military payloads like Cosmos 834.

### Documentation & References  
All factual statements are drawn from the structured Wikidata entry and associated academic references (e.g., Q6272367 for launch data, Q200386 for COSPAR ID). No additional speculation or external data has been introduced.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report