Japan and Astronomy
Initially, all Japanese astrophysics spacecraft were developed under the auspices of the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science and consequently have been modest in size in order to be accommodated by the M-3 class of launch vehicles (Section 2.6). However, the four principal spacecraft, all devoted to X-ray astronomy, have been eminently successful: Corsa-B (Hakucho) in 1979, Astro-B (Tenma) in 1983, Astro-C (Ginga) in 1987, and Astro-D (Asuka) in 1993. The Astro-C mission was completed in November, 1991 and was followed 15 months later by Astro-D on 20 February 1993.
ISAS launched M-V-4 vehicle at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 10, 2000, from Kagoshima Space Center (KSC), but could not inject ASTRO-E satellite into orbit due to the 1st stage malfunction. The launch which had been expected to start off the outset of the new millenium with the launch success could not attain its objective. The SUZAKU (ASTRO-EII) [launched July 10, 2005 ] carried five soft X-ray telescopes and one hard X-ray telescope. The soft X-ray telescopes consist of five X-ray mirrors XRT and five focal plane detectors, i.e., four XIS detectors and a single XRS detector. The XIS is an X-ray CCD camera which covers an energy range of 0.4-10 keV with a typical energy resolution of 120 eV. The XRS, on the other hand, is an array of X-ray micro-calorimeters which covers an energy range similar to the XIS with a typical energy resolution of 12 eV.
The Far Infrared Surveyor, one of the focal plane instruments on Astro-F Akari [launched February 22, 2006], was developed primarily by Nagoya University, JAXA, the University of Tokyo and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), using detectors provided by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). The other focal plane instrument, the Infrared Camera for near and mid-infrared observations, was developed by the University of Tokyo, JAXA, and other supporting institutes.
An unexpected bright cosmic infrared background radiation was discovered while AKARI, an infrared astronomical satellite, was making space survey in far-infrared. The cosmic infrared background radiation is an extended diffuse light that comes from distant universe. Background radiation means that it exists in the background of the known celestial bodies. The most famous cosmic background radiation is Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), which is an afterglow of light emitted by the scorching universe just after the Big Bang. CMB is observed to be literally an electromagnetic wave of millimeter-wave to microwave (1 to 10 mm) on the ground to some extent. CMB dominates most of background radiation energy from the all wavelength electromagnetic waves spreading in the universe.
The name for the scientific satellite for the VSOP-2 project was decided as ASTRO-G. The radio astronomy satellite HALCA, which performed an important role in the VSOP project, was called MUSES-B before launch. MUSES denotes a series of space engineering spacecraft launched by Mu rocket. HALCA was the second scientific satellite in the series. HALCA successfully carried out all the technological experiments necessary for space VLBI observations and, moreover, it achieved considerable results in astronomy. The VSOP-2 becomes a radio astronomical observation project by taking over HALCA’s engineering and astronomical results. The scientific satellite developed for the project is the seventh astronomy satellite (ASTRO), and thus named ASTRO-G.
However, since the technology to deploy its 9m antenna with high surface accuracy turned out to be very challenging, it was concluded that the major scientific goals of the mission could not be achieved with the current best surface accuracy. Even by compromising the range of scientific goals, it became clear that the necessary cost and time for the project would be much more than initially forecast, and therefore the decision was made to cancel the ASTRO-G project.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, launched ASTRO-H 'Hitomi' in February 2016. JAXA developed the X-ray astronomy satellite with help from NASA, spending around 270 million dollars. Astronomers had hoped that data from the satellite would help to unravel the mysteries of the universe, including the evolution of black holes.
The universe appears to be cold and peaceful, but seen in X-ray, outer space is filled with turbulence in the form of explosions, collisions, and outbursts. For the purpose of advancing astronomical observations in X-rays, the next generation X-ray observatory "Hitomi" (ASTRO-H) was developed from an international collaboration including Japan and NASA. The cutting edge instrument on board is the “X-ray micro-calorimeter,” which observes X-rays from space with the world’s greatest spectral capability. The other 3 detectors on board allow high sensitivity observations in a wide bandwidth spanning soft X-ray to the softest Gamma-ray. "Hitomi" (ASTRO-H) will apply these new functions to investigate the mechanisms of how galaxy clusters—the largest objects in space made of “visible matter”—formed and influenced by dark energy and dark matter, to reveal the formation and evolution of supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, and to unearth the physical laws governing extreme conditions in neutron stars and black holes.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) found that communication with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “Hitomi” (ASTRO-H), launched on February 17, 2016 (JST), failed from the start of its operation originally scheduled at 16:40, Saturday March 26 (JST). JAXA lost contact with the satellite 26 March 2016. JAXA says a telescope in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, has detected another object near 'Hitomi' and says this may be part of the satellite. Astronomers in Japan and the United States have taken video and images that show the satellite's brightness changing every few seconds. 'Hitomi' may be spinning out of control.
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