MHI H-IIA 202 Astro-H (Hitomi)
H-IIA 202
Status
Success
Date
17 FEB 2016
08:45
Launch Provider
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Launch Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Mission Overview
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.
Rocket
H-IIA 202
Mission Type
Astrophysics
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Stages
2
Livestream
Rocket Details
H-IIA (H2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch Akatsuki, which studied the planet Venus. Launches occur at the Tanegashima Space Center.
Height
53 m
Diameter
4 m
Launch Mass
285 T
Thrust
2,260 kN