H-IIA 202 | Astro-H (Hitomi)
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.
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.
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Mission Profile
Astro-H (Hitomi) was a H-IIA 202 mission operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that lifted off from Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan on February 17, 2016. The flight carried its payload on a astrophysics mission to Low Earth Orbit. The launch was a success.