# COROT

> European Space Agency space observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q48633](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48633)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoRoT)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corot

## Summary
COROT (COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits) was a space telescope operated by the French space agency CNES and the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched in 2006, this space observatory was designed to study stellar seismology and search for exoplanets from a Sun-synchronous orbit. The mission concluded in 2014 after nearly six years of operation, exceeding its original design life.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** It is a space telescope (space observatory) used for observing distant space objects.
*   **Launch Date:** December 27, 2006, at 14:23:38.
*   **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-2.1b rocket.
*   **Operators:** CNES (French space agency) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
*   **Manufacturer:** Alcatel Space.
*   **Mass:** 668 kilograms (launch weight).
*   **Orbit:** Sun-synchronous orbit.
*   **Service Life:** Designed for 3 years; actual service life was 5.8 years.
*   **Decommissioning:** June 17, 2014.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym COROT stand for?
A: COROT stands for **COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits**. It also goes by the Spanish name *Convección, Rotación y Tránsitos Planetarios*.

### Q: Who built and operated the COROT satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by **Alcatel Space**. It was jointly operated by **CNES** (the French space agency) and the **European Space Agency** (ESA).

### Q: How long did the COROT mission last?
A: While the satellite was designed for a service life of **3 years**, it remained operational for **5.8 years**. The mission ended with spacecraft decommissioning on June 17, 2014, following a computer failure in 2012 and service retirement in 2013.

## Why It Matters
COROT represents a significant milestone in European space exploration as a dedicated space observatory for asteroseismology and exoplanet detection. By utilizing the PROTEUS spacecraft bus and observing from a Sun-synchronous orbit, it provided astronomers with critical data on the internal structure of stars and the characteristics of distant planets. Its successful operation for nearly six years—nearly double its design life—demonstrated the robustness of its design by Alcatel Space and the efficacy of the partnership between CNES and the European Space Agency. The data gathered during its tenure has contributed to the broader understanding of stellar convection, rotation, and planetary transits.

## Notable For
*   **Mission Longevity:** Successfully operated for 5.8 years, significantly exceeding its 3-year design life.
*   **Naming Convention:** Known by the complex acronym COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits, highlighting its dual scientific objectives.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** One of the early payloads for the **Soyuz-2.1b** rocket version.
*   **Platform:** Utilized the **PROTEUS** spacecraft bus, a standardized small satellite platform.
*   **International Identifiers:** Cataloged under COSPAR ID **2006-063A** and NSSDCA ID **2006-063A**.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The COROT satellite had a launch mass of **668 kilograms**. It was built by **Alcatel Space** utilizing the **PROTEUS** spacecraft bus, a versatile platform designed for low-Earth orbit missions. The spacecraft was powered by two solar arrays. Unlike some observatories that orbit the Earth randomly, COROT was placed in a **Sun-synchronous orbit**, which allowed it to maintain a consistent angle relative to the Sun, optimizing lighting conditions for its observations of distant stars.

### Mission History
The observatory was launched on **December 27, 2006**, at 14:23:38 from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31** aboard a **Soyuz-2.1b** carrier rocket. The mission was a collaborative effort, primarily owned and operated by **CNES** (France) and the **European Space Agency**.

The mission timeline includes several key milestones:
*   **2006:** Successful launch and deployment.
*   **2012:** A significant computer failure occurred on **November 2**, which impacted operations.
*   **2013:** The satellite was officially retired from service in **June**.
*   **2014:** The spacecraft was formally decommissioned on **June 17**.

### Identifiers and Classification
COROT is classified as a **space telescope** and is distinct from the painter Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot. It holds the distinction of being the first spacecraft dedicated to the study of exoplanet transits and asteroseismology from orbit. Its identifiers include the Bing Entity ID `d98890e7-0369-7b64-e351-d2db4a69f343` and the Wolfram Language Entity Code `Entity["Satellite", "29678"]`.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/corot.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013