{"id":37848,"date":"2016-02-24T14:33:51","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T05:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=37848"},"modified":"2016-03-01T10:36:29","modified_gmt":"2016-03-01T01:36:29","slug":"astronomy-satellite-astro-h-successfully-launches-into-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/37848","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy satellite ASTRO-H successfully launches into space"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 17:45 on February 17, the X-ray astronomy satellite, ASTRO-H<\/a>, launched into space from the Tanegashima Space Center on board H-IIA rocket No. 30. Waseda\u00a0Professor Jun Kataoka (School of Advanced Science and Engineering)<\/a>\u00a0is a member of the ASTRO-H team.<\/p>\n

\"20160219_1\"<\/p>\n

Approximately fourteen minutes and fifteen seconds after launch, ASTRO-H successfully detached from the H-IIA rocket. On the day of launch, weather was clear with northwest winds of 5.1m\/s and a temperatures of 10.9\u2103. At 19:40, Uchinoura Space Center received electric communications and confirmed the status of the satellite\u2019s Solar Array Wings.<\/p>\n

Astronomy satellite \u201cHitomi\u201d<\/h3>\n

\"20160219_2\"<\/p>\n

The ASTRO-H astronomy satellite, which will become an eye for studying the universe, has been renamed \u201cHitomi,\u201d or \u201ceye\u201d in Japanese. Following the initial launch and adjustment of equipment and trial observations that will last approximately three months, Hitomi will become a public astronomical observatory for the entire world. Hitomi is generating great excitement among scientists around the world who wish to know about the laws that govern our fierce universe.<\/p>\n

Although ASTRO-H\u2019s launch was a success, the satellite\u2019s mission is just beginning. Over 250 scientists from JAXA, NASA, domestic universities, and research organizations are participating in this flagship mission for X-ray astronomy. Waseda is committed to the advancement of X-ray astronomy in Japan.<\/p>\n