Suzaku

Launch data: Designation  28773 / 05025A Launch date  10 Jul 2005 - 03:30 UT Launch site  Uchinoura (Kagoshima ?- ref #3) Launch vehicle  M-5 Mission  X-Ray Astronomy Earth orbit on 22 Jul - 12:57 UT: Perigee / Apogee  565 x 573 km Inclination  31.40° Period  96.05 min

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor   Operator  ISAS, NASA Platform   Mass at launch  1680 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension   Equipment  XRS, XIS, HXD, XRT Stabilization   DC power   Design lifetime

This photograph shows the fully-integrated Suzaku satellite (then known as Astro-E2) before vibration tests at the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA) on Oct. 25, 2004.

Mission details:

• Astro E is a X-ray astronomy satellite built as a joint effort of NASA and the Japanese space agency ISAS. Observing the X-ray spectrum of the distant universe, Astro-E will open a new window into the workings of black holes, neutron stars, active galaxies, and other very energetic objects.
• The first Astro E was lost in a launch vehicle failure on February 10, 2000. "Suzaku" is the name of legendary red bird which gives protection against evil.
• Astro E / E2 features following experiments:
  • XRS (Spectrometer) - XRS-2 in Astro-E2
  • XIS (X-ray camera)
  • HXD (Hard X-ray detector)
  • XRT (X-Ray Telescope)
• Shortly after launch, Sazuka lost the liquid Helium for cooling the XRS-2 detector, severly impacting the resolution of the instrument. All other instruments are operable.

External links:

• NASA: Satellite description
• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking