Hitomi latest news

hitomi experience report

The complete report on the INVESTIGATION OF ANOMALIES AFFECTING THE X-RAY ASTRONOMY SATELLITE HITOMI (ASTRO-H) can be downloaded here.

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Hitomi communication anomaly

JAXA found that communication with Hitomi failed on 16:40 (JST) Satuday March, 26.

While the cause of communication anomaly is under investigation, JAXA received a short signal from the satellite, and is working for recovery.

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HITOMI CRITICAL OPERATION PHASE SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED!

JAXA confirmed the completion of a sequence of important operations of Hitomi (formerly ASTRO-H), including turning the cooling system on, test operation of the Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS), and extending the Extensible Optical Bench (EOB). With this confirmation, the critical operation phase of Hitomi was completed. 

The Hitomi will take about one and half months to verify the function of its onboard equipment and instruments in space, then we will conduct calibration observations for another one and half month.

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ASTRO-H sucessfully launched and named Hitomi

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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the X-ray Astronomy Satellite (ASTRO-H) has deployed its solar array paddles (SAPs) normally through data transmitted from the satellite and received at the Uchinoura Ground Station at 5:45 p.m. on February 17, 2016. It was launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 from the Tahegashima Space Center at 5:45 p.m. on the same day.

 

The satellite is currently in good health

 

Date of Launch : Feb. 17 20

Launch Time : 05:45 PM (JST)

 

Launch site: Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre

The launch was broadcasted on Youtube !

 

ASTRO-H is the eye to study the hot and energetic universe. Therefore ASTRO-H has been renamed "Hitomi". The word Hitomi generally means "eye", and specifically the pupil, or entrance window of the eye - the aperture!

Hitomi is the sixth of a series of X-ray observatory satellites developed by the Japanese space agency (JAXA). It will explore the extreme universe of high energy phenomena around black holes and supernova explosions, and observe clusters of galaxies filled with high-temperature plasma. 

ASTRO-H image

 

European Involvement

 

In return for various contributions from Europe, JAXA has agreed that about  8% of the open observing time will be reserved to proposals from scientists from institutes located in the ESA Member States. The European proposals will first be peer-reviewed by an ESA-appointed Time Allocation Committee and the recommended proposals forwarded to JAXA for merging with those resulting from the parallel Japanese and US calls. 

 

The details of the Announcements of Opportunity for observations to be performed will be released when appropriate. Support to European Users for preparing proposals and for eventual help in data analysis will be provided by the European Hitomi Science Support Centre (see links at left)