Hinotori (satellite)

Hinotori
Names Astro-A
Mission type Astronomy
Operator ISAS
COSPAR ID 1981-017A
SATCAT № 12307
Spacecraft properties
BOL mass 185 kilograms (408 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 21 February 1981, 00:30:00 (1981-02-21UTC00:30Z) UTC[1]
Rocket Mu-3S
Launch site Mu Pad, Kagoshima
Contractor ISAS
End of mission
Decay date 11 July 1991 (1991-07-12)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 576 kilometres (358 mi)
Apogee 644 kilometres (400 mi)
Inclination 31.3 degrees
Period 90.1 minutes

Hinotori, also known as ASTRO-A before launch, was Japan's first X-ray astronomy satellite. It was developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). Its primary mission was to study of solar flares emanating from the Sun during the solar maximum.[2] It was launched successfully on February 21, 1981 using a M-3S rocket as the vehicle from Uchinoura Space Center (known at the time as Kagoshima). After the start of normal operation, it observed a large solar flare and, a month later, succeeded in observing 41 flares of many sizes from the Sun. It reentered the atmosphere on July 11, 1991.[3]

Instruments

Highlights

References

  1. ↑ JAXA, "Catalogue of ISAS Missions"; retrieved 2014-12-23.
  2. ↑ Gunter's Space Page, "Astro A (Hinotori)"; retrieved 2014-12-23.
  3. ↑ ISAS, "Solar Observation HINOTORI (ASTRO-A)"; retrieved 2014-12-23.



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