# KH 7-16

> American reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q11732930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11732930)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kh-7-16

## Summary
KH 7-16 was an American reconnaissance satellite operated by the United States Air Force. Launched on March 12, 1965, as part of the KH-7 Gambit series, the spacecraft was manufactured by General Electric and Kodak. It had a mass of 2,000 kilograms and utilized an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket to reach orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a KH-7 Gambit reconnaissance satellite.
- **Launch Date:** March 12, 1965, at 19:20.
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West.
- **Operator:** United States Air Force.
- **Mass:** 2,000 kilograms.
- **Manufacturers:** General Electric (Orbital Control Vehicle, Satellite Recovery Vehicle) and Kodak (Photographic Payload Section).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D (Serial Number: 7104).
- **Mission Designations:** Also known as Mission 4016, OPS 4920, AFP-206 SV 966, GAMBIT SV 966, and GAMBIT-1 16.
- **Re-entry:** The space capsule underwent atmospheric entry on March 17, 1965.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1965-019A; Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 01247.

## FAQs
### Q: When was KH 7-16 launched?
A: KH 7-16 was launched on March 12, 1965, at 19:20 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West.

### Q: who manufactured the KH 7-16 satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by General Electric, which built the Orbital Control Vehicle and Satellite Recovery Vehicle, and Kodak, which provided the Photographic Payload Section.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for KH 7-16?
A: KH 7-16 was launched using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D expendable launch system, specifically serial number 7104.

### Q: What was the mass of KH 7-16?
A: The satellite had a total mass of 2,000 kilograms.

## Why It Matters
KH 7-16 represents a specific mission within the United States Air Force's KH-7 Gambit program, a series of reconnaissance satellites vital to American intelligence gathering during the mid-1960s. The entry illustrates the complex industrial collaboration required for early space reconnaissance, distinguishing the roles of General Electric in spacecraft design and Kodak in imaging technology.

The mission details provide insight into the operational cadence of the era, highlighting a rapid timeline where a satellite launched on March 12 could complete its photographic mission and return a capsule via atmospheric entry by March 17. Furthermore, KH 7-16 serves as a historical data point for the use of the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket and the infrastructure at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Manufacturing:** Distinguished by a dual-manufacturer setup where Kodak handled the specific photographic payload while General Electric managed the orbital and recovery vehicles.
- **Short Mission Duration:** The mission profile included a significant event (atmospheric entry of the space capsule) just five days after launch.
- **Specific Launch Configuration:** Utilized a specific iteration of the Atlas launch system, the SLV-3 Agena-D (serial 7104).
- **Multiple Identifiers:** The entity is tracked under numerous designators, including military (OPS 4920) and program-specific (GAMBIT-1 16) codes.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Design
KH 7-16, designated as an instance of the KH-7 Gambit class, was an American reconnaissance satellite developed for the United States Air Force. The spacecraft had a mass of 2,000 kilograms. It carried several official designators, including Mission 4016, OPS 4920, AFP-206 SV 966, and GAMBIT-1 16.

### Development and Manufacturing
The construction of KH 7-16 involved distinct responsibilities:
*   **General Electric:** Manufactured the "spacecraft" component, specifically the Orbital Control Vehicle and the Satellite Recovery Vehicle.
*   **Kodak:** Manufactured the "payload" component, specifically the Photographic Payload Section.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on March 12, 1965.
*   **Time:** 19:20
*   **Location:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West
*   **Vehicle:** Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D (serial number 7104)

### Operational Timeline
Following its launch, the KH 7-16 mission proceeded to orbit. A significant mission event occurred on March 17, 1965, involving the atmospheric entry of the space capsule.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The satellite is tracked in various databases under the following identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1965-019A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 01247
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120p53qq
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "01247"]

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kh-7.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1965-019A)
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-019A)