Akari (satellite)

AKARI
Artist's conception of AKARI
Mission typeInfrared telescope
OperatorJAXA
COSPAR ID2006-005A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.28939
Websiteglobal.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/astro_f/
Mission duration5 years, 9 months
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerISAS
Launch mass952 kg (2,099 lb)
Dimensions5.5 m × 1.9 m × 3.2 m (18.0 ft × 6.2 ft × 10.5 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date21:28, 21 February 2006 (UTC) (2006-02-21T21:28UTC)[1]
RocketM-V, mission M-V-8
Launch siteM-V Pad, Uchinoura Space Center
End of mission
Disposaldecommissioned
Deactivated24 November 2011 (2011-11-24)
Decay date11 April 2023, 04:44 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Semi-major axis6,884 km (4,278 mi)[2]
Eccentricity0.0129527[2]
Perigee altitude423.9 km (263.4 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude602.3 km (374.3 mi)[2]
Inclination98.2 degrees[2]
Period94.7 minutes[2]
RAAN305.9392 degrees[2]
Argument of perigee124.2012 degrees[2]
Mean anomaly354.1441 degrees[2]
Mean motion15.1995622 rev/day[2]
Epoch9 July 2015, 13:43:21 UTC[2]
Revolution no.50455[2]
Main
TypeRitchey–Chrétien
Diameter0.67 m (2.2 ft)
Focal length4.2 m (14 ft)
Wavelengths1.7 to 180 μm (Infrared)
Instruments
FIS: Far-Infrared Surveyor
IRC: Infra-Red Camera

AKARI (ASTRO-F) was an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. It was launched on 21 February 2006, at 21:28 UTC (06:28, 22 February JST) by M-V rocket into Earth Sun-synchronous orbit. After its launch it was named AKARI (明かり), which means light in Japanese. Earlier on, the project was known as IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Surveyor).

Its primary mission was to survey the entire sky in near-, mid- and far-infrared, through its 68.5 cm (27.0 in) aperture telescope.[3]

  1. ^ Stephen Clark (21 February 2006). "Japanese infrared space observatory goes into orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "ATRO-F (AKARI) Satellite details 2006-005A NORAD 28939". N2YO. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. ^ "JAXA Hopes To Keep AKARI Going Despite Power Failure". Space News International. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2011.