X Report 16 Sep 2025
SpaceX continues to make headlines with successful launches and advancements in satellite technology. Notably, a Falcon 9 rocket delivered an upgraded Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS amid a busy launch schedule this week.
COSMOS 1687 (16103)
COSPAR: 1985-088A | Alt Name: Kosmos-1687
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 30, 1985
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC16/2
Launch Vehicle
Molniya 8K78M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
16103
International Designator
1985-088A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:12:32 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
71.98°
Right Ascension
8.69°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
337.32°
Period
717.21 min
Mean Motion
2.01 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
COSMOS 1687
Alternative Name
Kosmos-1687
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
PVO
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 16103U 85088A 26184.25870701 -.00000638 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 16103 71.9839 8.6875 5533559 337.3228 235.9992 2.00778949298573
Source: Celestrak
Summary
COSMOS 1687 (also known as Kosmos-1687) is an early warning satellite launched by the Soviet Union on September 30, 1985. The spacecraft has a cylindrical shape with two panels, measuring 4 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter, with a span of 5 meters. It was equipped with deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries for power supply. Launched from Plesetsk Launch Site (PLMSC) using the Molniya 8K78M launch vehicle, it weighed 1250 kilograms at launch and had a dry mass of 1150 kilograms. Manufactured by NPO Lavochkin (NPOL/KOMET), its mission is to provide early warning capabilities for the Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO). The satellite's payload includes an Oko 73D6 No. 6030 system, and it has a radar cross-section of 12.5119 square meters.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
5
Dry Mass
1150
Launch Mass
1250
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
12.5119
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Oko 73D6 No. 6030
Purpose
Early warning
Mission
Early warning
Manufacturer
NPOL/KOMET
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Oko
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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