# Gorizont 16
**Wikidata**: [Q16061176](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061176)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gorizont-16

## Summary
Gorizont 16 is a Soviet communications satellite launched on August 18, 1988, as part of the broader Gorizont series. It was deployed using a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and utilized the Blok DM-2 space tug for orbital insertion. The satellite had the COSPAR ID 1988-071A and SCN number 19397.

## Key Facts
- Launched on August 18, 1988
- COSPAR ID: 1988-071A
- SCN number: 19397
- Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200
- Launch vehicle: Proton-K
- Space tug used: Blok DM-2
- Instance of: Gorizont class satellite
- Operational period: 1988–2000 (based on series timeline)
- Part of the Gorizont satellite program (launched between 1978–2000)
- Referenced in Portuguese-language Wikipedia

## FAQs
### Q: What is Gorizont 16?
A: Gorizont 16 is a Soviet-era communications satellite launched in 1988. It was part of the Gorizont series, designed for civilian communication purposes and operated until around the year 2000.

### Q: When was Gorizont 16 launched?
A: Gorizont 16 was launched on August 18, 1988, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan using a Proton-K rocket.

### Q: What kind of satellite is Gorizont 16?
A: Gorizont 16 belongs to the Gorizont class of Soviet communications satellites, which were primarily used for television and radio broadcasting services across the USSR.

## Why It Matters
Gorizont 16 represents one of many satellites in the long-running Gorizont program, which played a key role in expanding domestic telecommunications infrastructure within the Soviet Union. These satellites enabled improved broadcast coverage over vast geographic areas, supporting state-run media distribution during the final years of the USSR. As part of a standardized fleet with reliable performance, Gorizont-class satellites like Gorizont 16 contributed to maintaining centralized information flow at a time when global satellite technology was rapidly evolving. Its launch also reflects continued use of proven launch systems such as the Proton-K, highlighting stability in Soviet space operations even amid political transition.

## Notable For
- Being among the later launches in the Gorizont satellite program spanning more than two decades
- Utilizing the Blok DM-2 upper stage for precise orbital placement
- Having an internationally recognized identifier (COSPAR ID 1988-071A) for tracking and cataloging purposes
- Representing continuity in Soviet/Russian satellite communications capabilities through the late Cold War era
- Being documented under multiple authoritative identifiers including SCN 19397 and Wolfram Language code Entity["Satellite", "19397"]

## Body

### Mission Overview
Gorizont 16 was launched into orbit on August 18, 1988, as part of the Soviet Union's ongoing effort to maintain robust nationwide communications via satellite. Designed for civilian use, it supported television and radio broadcasts across remote regions where terrestrial networks were insufficient.

### Technical Specifications
- **Class**: Gorizont  
- **SCN Number**: 19397  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1988-071A  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K  
- **Space Tug**: Blok DM-2  
- **Instance Of**: Communications satellite  

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200**, marking another successful mission in the extensive operational history of the Proton rocket family. The launch occurred on **August 18, 1988**, placing the satellite into geostationary orbit with assistance from the **Blok DM-2** upper stage module.

### Program Context
As part of the **Gorizont satellite series**, Gorizont 16 followed a legacy of similar spacecraft developed between **1978 and 2000**. These satellites were instrumental in delivering centralized media content throughout the expansive territory of the Soviet Union.

### Documentation & Identification
Gorizont 16 has been assigned several standard reference codes:
- SCN: 19397
- COSPAR ID: 1988-071A
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1pznmkmz0
- Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "19397"]
It is referenced in the Portuguese version of Wikipedia, indicating some level of international documentation.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report