Cosmic Background Explorer

Quick Facts: Who was Cosmic Background Explorer?

Subject:

Cosmic Background Explorer

Known for:

NASA satellite that mapped the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.

Born:

1989

Died:

1993

Century / Era:

1989s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE KOH-bee), also referred to as Explorer 66, was a NASA satellite dedicated to cosmology, which operated from 1989 to 1993. Its goals were to investigate the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB or CMBR) of the universe and provide measurements that would help shape the understanding of the cosmos.

Career & Major Achievements

COBE's measurements provided two key pieces of evidence that supported the Big Bang theory of the universe: that the CMB has a near-perfect black-body spectrum, and that it has very faint anisotropies. Two of COBE's principal investigators, George F. Smoot III and John C. Mather, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for their work on the project.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to the Nobel Prize committee, "the COBE project can also be regarded as the starting point for cosmology as a precision science". COBE was the second cosmic microwave background satellite, following RELIKT-1, and was followed by two more advanced spacecraft: the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) operated from 2001 to 2010 and the Planck spacecraft from 2009 to 2013.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1989: Birth of Cosmic Background Explorer — NASA satellite that mapped the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.
2. 1993: Passing & Historical Legacy — Cosmic Background Explorer passed away on 1993, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
3. 2001: 2001 Milestone — COBE was the second cosmic microwave background satellite, following RELIKT-1, and was followed by two more advanced spacecraft: the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) operated from 2001 to 2010 and the Planck spacecraft from 2009 to 2013.
4. 2006: 2006 Milestone — Mather, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for their work on the project.

Notable Quotes by Cosmic Background Explorer

“The COBE project can also be regarded as the starting point for cosmology as a precision science.” (2006)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cosmic Background Explorer

True or False: “COBE was the first satellite to measure the black-body spectrum of the CMB.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): COBE was the second major satellite dedicated to CMB measurements, following RELIKT-1. While its findings were groundbreaking, it was not the first instrument to study this spectrum.

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• 1989 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1989
• 1993 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1993

Frequently Asked Questions about Cosmic Background Explorer