Cosmos (G1)
Cosmos is an Autobot in the Generation 1 continuity.
Fast and intelligent, bored and lonely, Cosmos has reason to regret his abilities, which often separate him from his Autobot friends. Alas, his skills are far too extraordinary to ignore.
Few of his faction can achieve escape velocity and enter planetary orbit unaided, as he can, from planets as big as Earth or slightly larger. He carries fuel reserves sufficient for short orbital journeys; he is quite able to land on Earth's Moon, then take off and return to Earth. Cosmos enjoys such diversions immensely.
Generally, however, he remains in orbit, relaying messages and observing enemy installations. His optical sensors are able to observe a human radio host standing outside in the high desert from 600 miles up.
Cosmos is a rather awkward and tubby robot; in this mode he is neither fast nor strong. For his defense he is fitted with a potent particle beam cannon, usable in either mode, and extremely accurate. Though he is seldom called to do so (it would certainly give away his position) he is able to train this beam upon ground targets while orbiting in vehicle mode. The damage is similar to a normal Transformer gun.
As a living Transformer, his advantage over a simple satellite is great, but it is a boring life for Cosmos. Every so often he breaks the monotony by hovering eerily above the backyards of Earth citizens, drifting silently behind the cars of lone drivers with his running lights on, or briefly jamming TV transmissions with reruns of THE OUTER LIMITS. He has also been known to zigzag through meteor showers on a clear night, showing off his space piloting skills.
Naturally, this causes some consternation to the poor humans he is supposed to defend, but it's all in good fun. Primus save us from bored techies.
Fiction
Generation 1 Cartoon
In the G1 cartoon, Cosmos was shown frequently ferrying Autobots on rather extended space flights, serving in a capacity similar to Skyfire. His cartoon form would seem quite a bit larger than his comic one. It is not explained how his range was bolstered for such prolonged interplanetary excursions. At times he also filled his assigned role as orbital observer.
Marvel Comics
Cosmos was a member of Perceptor's resistance cell on Cybertron. With some of his comrades he was transported to Earth after the great raid on Darkmount.
