# High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3

> space observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q1190799](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1190799)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Energy_Astronomy_Observatory_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/high-energy-astronomy-observatory-3

## Summary
High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3 (HEAO-3) was a space observatory launched by NASA on September 20, 1979, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 aboard an Atlas-Centaur rocket. It was designed to study high-energy phenomena in the universe, including cosmic rays and gamma rays.

## Key Facts
- Launched on September 20, 1979, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36
- Launched aboard an Atlas-Centaur rocket
- Classified as a space telescope and space observatory
- Has a COSPAR ID of 1979-082A
- Has an NSSDCA ID of 1979-082A
- Has a Wikidata identifier of Q11532
- Has a Freebase ID of /m/03d915q
- Has a Wolfram Language Entity Code of Entity["Satellite", "11532"]
- Has a Wikipedia title of "High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3"
- Has a Commons category of "HEAO 3"
- Has a Wikidata description of "space observatory"
- Has a sitelink count of 14
- Has a significant event of rocket launch on September 20, 1979, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36
- Has Wikipedia languages available in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Galician, Hebrew, Indonesian, and Japanese
- Has an Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID of 507130

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of HEAO-3?
A: HEAO-3 was designed to study high-energy phenomena in the universe, including cosmic rays and gamma rays, to advance our understanding of astrophysical processes.

### Q: When and how was HEAO-3 launched?
A: HEAO-3 was launched on September 20, 1979, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 aboard an Atlas-Centaur rocket.

### Q: What type of observatory was HEAO-3?
A: HEAO-3 was classified as a space telescope and space observatory, specifically designed for high-energy astronomy observations.

## Why It Matters
HEAO-3 represented a significant advancement in space-based astronomy, allowing scientists to observe high-energy phenomena that cannot be studied from Earth's surface due to atmospheric interference. As part of NASA's High Energy Astronomy Observatory program, it contributed to our understanding of cosmic rays, gamma rays, and other energetic processes in the universe. The observatory's observations helped establish the foundation for modern high-energy astrophysics and demonstrated the value of space-based platforms for studying the most energetic events in the cosmos. Its successful operation paved the way for subsequent missions that continue to explore the high-energy universe.

## Notable For
- First dedicated high-energy astronomy observatory to study cosmic rays and gamma rays in detail
- Successfully operated as part of NASA's High Energy Astronomy Observatory program
- Launched aboard the reliable Atlas-Centaur rocket system
- Contributed to the early development of space-based high-energy astrophysics
- Maintained comprehensive documentation across multiple international Wikipedia language editions

## Body
### Technical Specifications and Classification
HEAO-3 is classified as both a space telescope and space observatory, specifically designed for high-energy astronomy observations. The observatory has a Wikidata identifier of Q11532 and is recognized across multiple international platforms with Wikipedia articles available in nine different languages.

### Launch Details
The observatory was launched on September 20, 1979, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 in Florida. The launch vehicle was an Atlas-Centaur rocket, a reliable launch system that has been used for numerous NASA missions. This launch represents a significant event in the history of space-based astronomy.

### Identification and Documentation
HEAO-3 has multiple identification systems across different databases:
- COSPAR ID: 1979-082A
- NSSDCA ID: 1979-082A
- Freebase ID: /m/03d915q
- Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "11532"]
- Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 507130

### International Recognition
The observatory has achieved international recognition with Wikipedia articles available in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Galician, Hebrew, Indonesian, and Japanese. This broad international coverage indicates the global significance of the HEAO-3 mission in the field of astronomy.

### Media and Documentation
HEAO-3 has a dedicated Commons category ("HEAO 3") and is documented with an image available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/HEAO-3.gif. The observatory's Wikidata description is "space observatory," and it has a sitelink count of 14, indicating substantial online documentation and references.

## References

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