Venera 16

Venera 16
Venusian topography by Veneras 15/16
Mission typeVenus orbiter
OperatorSoviet Academy of Sciences
COSPAR ID1983-054A
SATCAT no.14107
Mission duration Overall: 1 year, 1 month
At Venus: 9 months
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type4V-2
ManufacturerNPO Lavochkin
Launch mass5,300 kilograms (11,700 lb)
Dry mass4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 7, 1983, 02:32 (1983-06-07UTC02:32) UTC
RocketProton-K/D-1
Launch siteBaikonur 200/40
End of mission
Last contactJune 13, 1985 (1985-06-14)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemCytherocentric
Semi-major axis45,632.0 kilometres (28,354.4 mi)
Pericytherion altitude7,081 kilometres (4,400 mi)
Apocytherion altitude72,079 kilometres (44,788 mi)
Inclination92.5 degrees
Period24 hours
Venus orbiter
Orbital insertionOctober 11, 1983
Orbits243

Venera 16 (Russian: Венера-16 meaning Venus 16) was a spacecraft sent to Venus by the Soviet Union. This uncrewed orbiter was to map the surface of Venus using high resolution imaging systems. The spacecraft was identical to Venera 15 and based on modifications to the earlier Venera space probes. The latest data from the spacecraft were received on June 13, 1985, when it responded to the signal sent from Earth for Vega 1.