# Cos-B

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q48711](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48711)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cos-B)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cos-b

## Summary
Cos-B was a space telescope satellite launched in 1975 to observe cosmic gamma-ray sources, operating until 1986. It was one of the earliest dedicated missions for high-energy astronomy, providing foundational data for gamma-ray research.

## Key Facts
- **Class and Type**: Instance of a space telescope, designed for observing distant space objects.
- **Launch Details**: Launched on 1975-08-09 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 via a Delta 2000 rocket.
- **Mission Duration**: Operated from launch until service retirement on 1986-01-18.
- **Identifiers**: COSPAR ID and NSSDCA ID are both 1975-072A; SCN identifier is 08062.
- **Vehicle and Site**: Utilized a Delta 2000 launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- **Global Reach**: Available in 10 Wikipedia languages and has 26 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects.
- **Public Documentation**: Wikimedia Commons image available; Encyclopedia of China ID is 505148.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Cos-B?
A: Cos-B was a satellite space telescope launched in 1975 to observe cosmic gamma-ray sources, operating until 1986. It was among the earliest dedicated missions for high-energy astronomy.

### Q: When did Cos-B operate and when did it end?
A: Cos-B was launched on August 9, 1975, and retired from service on January 18, 1986, after 11 years of operation.

### Q: What launch vehicle and site were used for Cos-B?
A: Cos-B was launched using a Delta 2000 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 on its mission start date.

### Q: How is Cos-B uniquely identified?
A: Cos-B has multiple identifiers, including COSPAR ID 1975-072A, NSSDCA ID 1975-072A, SCN number 08062, and Freebase ID /m/05x3x6.

### Q: In which languages is Cos-B documented online?
A: Cos-B has Wikipedia articles in 10 languages, including English, Spanish, German, and Chinese, and is categorized in Wikimedia Commons as COS-B.

## Why It Matters
Cos-B was pivotal in establishing gamma-ray astronomy as a viable scientific discipline. By providing the first systematic survey of gamma-ray sources, it enabled researchers to map celestial high-energy phenomena, such as pulsars and active galactic nuclei, with unprecedented detail. Its decade-long operational period generated a baseline dataset that later missions like the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory built upon, directly influencing modern astrophysics. Without Cos-B, our understanding of cosmic gamma-ray emissions—which reveal processes near black holes and neutron stars—would be significantly limited.

## Notable For
- **Early Gamma-Ray Pioneer**: Among the first dedicated missions for gamma-ray astronomy, launched just 12 years after the first gamma-ray detection in 1963.
- **Long Operational Span**: 11-year mission duration (1975–1986) was exceptionally long for early space telescopes, allowing extensive data collection.
- **Technical Simplicity**: Relied on a straightforward spark-chamber detector system, making it accessible for foundational sky surveys.
- **Multi-Lingual Documentation**: Available in 10 languages, reflecting global scientific interest and collaboration.
- **Unique Cataloging**: Identified by SCN 08062, serving as a reference point for satellite catalogs and astronomical databases.

## Body
### Mission Overview
- Launched on 1975-08-09 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- Retired from service on 1986-01-18 after 11 years of operation.
- Classified as an instance of "space telescope," a class for instruments observing distant space objects.

### Technical Specifications
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta 2000 series, an American expendable launch system.
- **Payload**: Space telescope instrument for cosmic observations (specific gamma-ray capabilities inferred from mission type).
- **Identifiers**:
  - SCN: 08062
  - COSPAR ID: 1975-072A
  - NSSDCA ID: 1975-072A
  - Freebase ID: /m/05x3x6
  - Wolfram Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "08062"]
  - Encyclopedia of China ID: 505148
- **Event Marker**: Significant event rocket launch on 1975-08-09 at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

### Digital and Catalog Presence
- **Sitelink Count**: 26 across Wikimedia projects.
- **Wikipedia**: Title "Cos-B" with versions in 10 languages (e.g., ar, bs, de, en, es, fa).
- **Media**: Wikimedia Commons image at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Cos-B.jpg; category "COS-B".
- **Aliases**: Also referred to as "Cos-B Satellite Mission."

### Related Entities
- **Class**: Space telescope (62 sitelinks), defining its instrument type.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta 2000 (11 sitelinks), the rocket system used for deployment.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013