Complex 16 was the second R-7A ICBM launch complex to become operationall at Plesetsk, in 1960. In 1969, Pad 2 was cannibalized to upgrade the Area 1 facility in Baikonur. Pad 2 was not again brought into operation until 1979. It was then completely renovated as a space launch pad for Molniya 8K78M/Soyuz 11A511U class vehicles. The first launch was on 19 February 1981, and it continued in use in this role into the 21st Century.

The complex followed the design of the protoype facility built at Area 31 of Baikonur and included its own residential area for military personnel and assembly buildings for launchers and payloads. The launchers were assembled and integrated with their payload in a horizontal position and transported to the launch pad by the railway. As operational ICBM facilities, the complex consisted of: Launch pad 2; Assembly Hall 4; and Residential Area 16.

• 1981 February 19 10:00 - Cosmos 1247 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 35,529 km (22,076 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 77 degree longitude of ascending node. First space launch from LC16/2, which had been cannabalised in the 1960's to reconstruct LC31 at Baikonur after the on-pad explosion of the second Soyuz in December 1966.

• 1981 August 4 00:13 - Cosmos 1285 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 36,086 km (22,422 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1261. Covered Oko constellation plane 6 - 116 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1981 October 31 22:54 - Cosmos 1317 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 34,987 km (21,739 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 8 - 196 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1982 March 3 05:44 - Cosmos 1341 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 36,092 km (22,426 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1247. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 79 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1982 April 7 13:42 - Cosmos 1348 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 35,126 km (21,826 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1172. Covered Oko constellation plane 9 - 236 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1982 September 22 06:23 - Cosmos 1409 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 36,670 km (22,780 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1217. Covered Oko constellation plane 2 - 317 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1983 April 25 19:34 - Cosmos 1456 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 38,464 km (23,900 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1191. Covered Oko constellation plane 4 - 37 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1983 September 7 13:24 - Cosmos 1496 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 338 km (210 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1983 December 28 03:48 - Cosmos 1518 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 38,145 km (23,702 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1341. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 72 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 March 6 17:10 - Cosmos 1541 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 35,015 km (21,757 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1278. Covered Oko constellation plane 3 - 355 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 April 4 01:40 - Cosmos 1547 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,507 km (22,684 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1382. Covered Oko constellation plane 7 - 154 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 June 6 15:34 - Cosmos 1569 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 37,578 km (23,349 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1518. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 74 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 August 2 08:38 - Cosmos 1586 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,751 km (22,835 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1456. Covered Oko constellation plane 4 - 35 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 September 7 19:13 - Cosmos 1596 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 35,908 km (22,312 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1348. Covered Oko constellation plane 9 - 238 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1984 October 4 19:49 - Cosmos 1604 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,050 km (22,400 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1367. Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 274 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1985 June 18 00:40 - Cosmos 1661 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,253 km (22,526 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 275 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1985 August 12 15:09 - Cosmos 1675 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,967 km (22,970 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1581. Covered Oko constellation plane 8 - 195 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1985 September 30 19:23 - Cosmos 1687 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,187 km (22,485 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1401. Covered Oko constellation plane 2 - 314 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1986 February 1 18:11 - Cosmos 1729 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 33,130 km (20,580 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1569. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 75 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1986 July 10 08:00 - Cosmos 1762 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 263 km (163 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1986 August 2 09:20 - Cosmos 1768 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1986 August 28 08:02 - Cosmos 1774 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,998 km (22,989 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1547. Covered Oko constellation plane 7 - 156 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1986 October 31 08:00 - Cosmos 1789 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 272 km (169 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1986 November 20 12:09 - Cosmos 1793 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,922 km (22,942 mi). Replaced Cosmos 1687. Covered Oko constellation plane 2 - 313 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1987 June 4 18:50 - Cosmos 1849 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 37,311 km (23,183 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 274 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1987 December 26 11:30 - Cosmos 1906 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). Also performed earth resources tasks. Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1988 February 18 09:50 - Cosmos 1920 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 232 km (144 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1988 July 7 08:05 - Cosmos 1957 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1988 August 30 14:14 - Cosmos 1966 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 37,970 km (23,590 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 3 - 355 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1989 January 12 11:29 - Cosmos 1990 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation; survey of seismically active regions of the country, including the Armenian SSR, in the interests of industrial and non -industrial construction.

• 1989 June 27 08:04 - Resurs F-02 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 269 km (167 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation.

• 1989 July 18 09:44 - Resurs F-03 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi). Deployed Pion 3 & 4. Resurs-F: Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the Soviet economy and international cooperation. Satellite carries two passive separable 'Pion' probes to investigate upper atmospheric density.

• 1989 November 23 20:35 - Cosmos 2050 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 34,182 km (21,239 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 9 - 233 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1990 April 28 11:37 - Cosmos 2076 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 34,572 km (21,482 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 277 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1990 July 3 - Yantar-4K1 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Failure. High resolution photo reconnaissance mission.

• 1990 July 25 18:13 - Cosmos 2087 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,991 km (22,985 mi). Replaced Cosmos 2084. Covered Oko constellation plane 6 - 117 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1990 September 7 11:59 - Resurs F-09 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 238 km (147 mi). Carried German microgravity experiment. Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR; solution of problems relating to ecology and international cooperation.

• 1990 November 20 02:33 - Cosmos 2105 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 38,453 km (23,893 mi). Covered Oko constellation planes 3/4 - 12 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1991 January 17 10:30 - Cosmos 2121 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi). Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule.

• 1991 February 7 18:15 - Cosmos 2124 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 316 km (196 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1991 March 6 15:30 - Cosmos 2136 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 314 km (195 mi). Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule.

• 1991 March 26 13:45 - Cosmos 2138 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 343 km (213 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1992 April 1 14:18 - Cosmos 2182 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 284 km (176 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1992 May 28 19:09 - Cosmos 2186 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 327 km (203 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1992 August 19 10:20 - Resurs F-16 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi). Carried US Dept. of Defense experiment. Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth in the interests of the various branches of the national economy and solution of problems relating to the environment and to international cooperation (the satellite's equipment included two Pion passive satellites for the investigation of the upper atmosphere).

• 1992 September 22 16:10 - Cosmos 2210 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 353 km (219 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1992 October 21 10:21 - Cosmos 2217 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,700 km (22,800 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 8 - 201 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1992 November 15 21:45 - Resurs-500 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi). Carried descent module with greetings to American people. Delivery of a humanitarian cargo (messages to the American people, promotional materials of Russian and foreign firms, etc.) to the United States of America in connection with the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus.

• 1993 January 26 15:55 - Cosmos 2232 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 35,870 km (22,280 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 4 - 34 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1993 April 2 14:30 - Cosmos 2240 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 320 km (190 mi). High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

• 1993 May 21 09:15 - Resurs F-17 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 255 km (158 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth for the various branches of the national economy, the solution of environmental problems, and international cooperation.

• 1993 June 25 08:20 - Resurs F-18 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy; solution of problems relating to ecology and international cooperation.

• 1993 August 10 14:53 - Cosmos 2261 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 35,967 km (22,348 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 9 - 235 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1993 August 24 10:45 - Resurs F-19 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy; solution of problems relating to ecology and international cooperation.

• 1994 June 7 07:20 - Cosmos 2281 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 293 km (182 mi). Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule. Also photography of the earth's surface for the purpose of the natural resource mapping and area monitoring on behalf of various branches of the Russian economy and in the interests of international cooperation. Landed July 29.

• 1994 August 5 01:12 - Cosmos 2286 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,384 km (22,607 mi). Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 78 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1995 May 24 20:10 - Cosmos 2312 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 36,472 km (22,662 mi). Covered Oko constellation planes 2/3 - 332 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1996 June 20 18:45 - Yantar-4K1 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Shroud broke up at T+50seconds.. High resolution photo reconnaissance mission.

• 1997 April 9 08:58 - Cosmos 2340 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL PVB76032-647 Apogee: 37,201 km (23,115 mi). Covered Oko constellation planes 8/9 - 217 degree longitude of ascending node.

• 1998 May 7 08:53 - Cosmos 2351 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 37,513 km (23,309 mi).

• 1999 December 27 19:12 - Cosmos 2368 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 38,751 km (24,078 mi). Early warning satellite, carrying a large telescope to monitor missile launches. The payload and fourth stage were placed in an initial 229 km x 523 km x 62.8 deg orbit; the fourth stage (Block-2BL) fired over South America on the first orbit and delivered the payload to its 12-hour final orbit.

• 2002 April 1 22:07 - Cosmos 2388 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Molniya 8K78M 2BL Apogee: 39,178 km (24,344 mi). The Blok-I upper stage and Oko satellite were placed in a 231 x 490 km x 62.8 deg parking orbit. Following the stage burn the Lavochkin US-KS (Oko) elliptical orbit early warning satellite built by Lavochkin was not tracked immediately, but later was reported to be in the correct standard orbit.

• 2004 September 24 16:50 - Cosmos 2410 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 348 km (216 mi). Film-return reconnaisance satellite. Maneuvered on October 1 to a 213 x 330 km orbit. Believed to be an improved Yantar-4K1 with a longer lifetime - and given the code name 'Kobalt' previously applied to the defunct Yantar-4K2 system. When re-entry was commanded after only 107 days in orbit, there was speculation that problems had arisen with the satellite. Sources claimed the satellite had some kind of control problem, which was brought under control, and the two smaller film return capsules were successfully returned. But when the control problem reoccurred, it was decided to bring the main re-entry capsule down early. At retrofire, two objects were tracked as having separated from the spacecraft. Russian search teams were unable to locate the capsule after re-entry. Further launches of the satellite were put on hold until a State Commission could determine the causes of the failure.

• 2006 May 3 17:38 - Cosmos 2420 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Apogee: 349 km (216 mi). Imaging reconnaissance satellite, probably the second Kobalt-M satellite, built by the Arsenal factory. The satellite carried small film recovery capsules and one large reentry vehicle, recovered at the end of the mission with the camera and more film.

• 2006 July 21 04:20 - Cosmos 2422 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 39,741 km (24,693 mi). Missile early warning satellite

• 2007 October 23 04:39 - Cosmos 2430 Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Apogee: 39,175 km (24,342 mi). Missile early warning satellite