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H-IIA 202 | Astro-H (Hitomi)

Astro-H (Hitomi)

Launch Successful

Launch Details

Date: 17 Feb 2016, 08:45 am UTC

Rocket: H-IIA (H-II)

Provider: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mission

Type: Astrophysics

Orbit: Low Earth Orbit

Pad: Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

Mission Description

Astro-H is the 6th satellite in a series of X-ray telescopes by JAXA and ISAS. Its 4 instruments on board will cover the X-ray and Gamma ray regions. This region consists of photons with energy ranging from 0.3-600keV, and the telescope will provide the highest resolution ever achieved of 3-10 keV bands. The craft weighs 2.7 tonnes and will be placed into a circular orbit 575km above the ground, with an inclination of 31 degrees.