Hitomi (satellite)

Hitomi (ひとみ)
Artist depiction of Hitomi satellite
NamesASTRO-H
New X-ray Telescope (NeXT)
Mission typeX-ray astronomy
OperatorJAXA
COSPAR ID2016-012A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.41337
Mission duration3 years (planned)
≈37 days and 16 hours (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass2,700 kg (6,000 lb) [1]
DimensionsLength: 14 m (46 ft)
Power3500 watts
Start of mission
Launch date17 February 2016, 08:45 UTC[2]
RocketH-IIA 202, No. 30
Launch siteTanegashima Space Center
End of mission
DisposalDestroyed on orbit
Destroyed26 March 2016, ≈01:42 UTC [3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[4]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude559.85 km (347.87 mi)
Apogee altitude581.10 km (361.08 mi)
Inclination31.01°
Period96.0 minutes
← Suzaku (ASTRO-EII)
X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) →

Hitomi (Japanese: ひとみ), also known as ASTRO-H and New X-ray Telescope (NeXT), was an X-ray astronomy satellite commissioned by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for studying extremely energetic processes in the Universe. The space observatory was designed to extend the research conducted by the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) by investigating the hard X-ray band above 10 keV. The satellite was originally called New X-ray Telescope;[5] at the time of launch it was called ASTRO-H.[6] After it was placed in orbit and its solar panels deployed, it was renamed Hitomi.[7] The spacecraft was launched on 17 February 2016 and contact was lost on 26 March 2016, due to multiple incidents with the attitude control system leading to an uncontrolled spin rate and breakup of structurally weak elements.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference astroh-presskit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sfnow20160217 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference spnews20160329 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference heavens-above was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference AstroH_NASA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Space_17Feb16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cambridge was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Clark, Stephen (18 April 2016). "Attitude control failures led to break-up of Japanese astronomy satellite". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 April 2016.