# Cosmos 900
**Wikidata**: [Q3399271](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3399271)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-900

## Summary
Cosmos 900 was a Soviet Earth observation satellite launched on March 29, 1977. It was deployed into orbit using a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132. The satellite is cataloged under the international designation 1977-023A and the Satellite Catalog Number 09898.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 900 is an instance of an Earth observation satellite, designed specifically to observe Earth from orbit.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on March 29, 1977.
- **Launch Time:** The specific launch event occurred at 23:00:00.
- **Launch Site:** It lifted off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The delivery system used was a Kosmos-3M rocket.
- **COSPAR ID:** The international designation for this object is 1977-023A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command identification number is 09898.
- **Aliases:** The satellite is also known as "Kosmos 900."

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 900?
A: Cosmos 900 was an Earth observation satellite. This class of artificial satellite is specifically designed to observe the planet Earth from orbit.

### Q: When and where was Cosmos 900 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on March 29, 1977, at 23:00:00 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Cosmos 900?
A: Cosmos 900 was launched aboard a Kosmos-3M rocket, a launch vehicle associated with the Soviet Union and Russia.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 900 represents a specific data point in the extensive timeline of the Soviet "Kosmos" program, a series of satellites that encompassed a wide variety of scientific and military objectives. Launched in the late 1970s, this mission highlights the operational tempo and technological reliance of the era on the Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. This rocket was a workhorse for the Soviet space program, frequently used to lift payloads such as Earth observation satellites into low Earth orbit.

The mission is significant for space tracking and historical records due to its precise cataloging. It serves as a verifiable entry in major space databases, identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 09898 and the COSPAR ID 1977-023A. These identifiers allow researchers and orbital analysts to distinguish this specific object from the thousands of other artifacts in orbit. Furthermore, its launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 places it within the geographical context of one of the world's most active spaceports, specifically utilized for these types of satellite deployments during the Cold War.

## Notable For
- **Precise Tracking Data:** It is uniquely identified by the Satellite Catalog Number 09898 and COSPAR ID 1977-023A.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It utilized the Kosmos-3M rocket, a prominent Russian/Soviet launch system.
- **Launch Location:** The mission originated from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a major Soviet spaceport.
- **Global Presence:** The satellite is referenced across multiple language editions of Wikipedia, including Spanish, Russian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Cosmos 900 was an artificial satellite tasked with Earth observation. As part of the Kosmos program, it joined a vast constellation of satellites used by the Soviet Union for various orbital activities. Its primary function was to observe Earth from orbit.

### Launch Operations
The satellite was successfully launched on **March 29, 1977**. The launch window opened late in the day, with the rocket lifting off at exactly **23:00:00**.
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132.
- **Rocket:** Kosmos-3M.

The Kosmos-3M is a two-stage rocket derived from the R-14 ballistic missile, frequently employed for launching smaller military and scientific payloads.

### Identifiers and Data
To facilitate global tracking and cataloging, Cosmos 900 was assigned standard international identifiers:
- **COSPAR International Designator:** 1977-023A (indicating it was the first object launched in the 23rd launch of 1977).
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 09898.
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** Entity["Satellite", "09898"].
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/121p6_sb.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report