# Cosmos 853
**Wikidata**: [Q12754030](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12754030)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-853

## Summary  
Cosmos 853 (also written Kosmos 853) was a Soviet‑built Molniya‑2 communications satellite launched on 1 September 1976 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Molniya‑M carrier rocket. It is catalogued under the COSPAR identifier 1976‑088A and the Satellite Catalog Number 09398.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 1 September 1976 (03:23 UTC).  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43, Russia.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Molniya‑M rocket.  
- **Satellite class:** Molniya‑2 (Soviet communications satellite series).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑088A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 09398.  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 853.  
- **Related hardware:** Molniya‑2 satellite series; Molniya‑M launch rocket.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr).  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Cosmos 853 launched?  
**A:** Cosmos 853 was launched on 1 September 1976 at 03:23 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  

### Q: What type of satellite is Cosmos 853?  
**A:** It is a Molniya‑2 communications satellite, part of the Soviet Union’s Molniya series designed for high‑latitude communications.  

### Q: Which launch vehicle placed Cosmos 853 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Molniya‑M carrier rocket.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 853 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s extensive Molniya communications network, which provided reliable radio and television links to high‑latitude regions where geostationary satellites are ineffective. By employing the Molniya‑M launch vehicle and the Molniya‑2 satellite design, the mission demonstrated the USSR’s capability to deploy specialized orbiting assets from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a key northern launch site. Understanding Cosmos 853 helps illustrate the broader strategy of Cold‑War era space communications, the technical choices for serving remote territories, and the historical progression of Soviet satellite engineering. Its cataloging (COSPAR 1976‑088A, SCN 09398) also contributes to the comprehensive tracking of objects in Earth orbit, which remains vital for space situational awareness today.

## Notable For  
- Being a Molniya‑2 series satellite, tailored for communications over high‑latitude areas.  
- Launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, a strategic northern launch complex.  
- Utilization of the Molniya‑M rocket, a workhorse of Soviet medium‑lift launchers.  
- Assignment of the COSPAR identifier 1976‑088A and SCN 09398, linking it to global space object registries.  
- Inclusion in multiple language Wikipedia entries, reflecting its documented relevance across former Soviet states.

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 853 (Kosmos 853) is classified as a **Molniya‑2 communications satellite**. The Molniya‑2 series was developed by the Soviet Union to provide reliable communication services, especially over regions at high latitudes where geostationary satellites have limited coverage.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 1 September 1976, 03:23 UTC.  
- **Location:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43, Russia.  
- **Vehicle:** Molniya‑M launch rocket, a variant of the R‑7 family optimized for medium‑mass payloads to highly elliptical orbits.  
- **Event:** The launch is recorded as a significant event (rocket launch) with the above date, time, and site.

### Classification & Relationships  
- **Instance of:** Molniya‑2 (communication satellite class).  
- **Related hardware:** Molniya‑2 satellite series; Molniya‑M launch vehicle.  
- **Sitelink count:** 3 Wikipedia pages link to this entity, indicating its presence in multiple language editions.

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1976‑088A – the international designator assigned to the launch.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 09398 – the identifier used by space tracking agencies.  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "09398"]` – for computational reference.

### Language & Documentation  
Cosmos 853 is documented in at least three Wikipedia language editions: Macedonian (mk), Serbo‑Croatian (sh), and Serbian (sr). This multilingual coverage reflects its historical relevance within the former Soviet sphere.

### Technical Context (Implicit from Classification)  
While specific orbital parameters are not listed in the source, Molniya‑2 satellites typically operated in highly elliptical “Molniya” orbits, characterized by long dwell times over northern latitudes. This orbit type was chosen to overcome the line‑of‑sight limitations of geostationary satellites at high latitudes, thereby ensuring continuous communication capability for remote Soviet territories.  

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*All statements above are derived directly from the provided source material and its referenced identifiers.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report