Akari (satellite)
| Mission type | Infrared telescope |
|---|---|
| Operator | JAXA |
| COSPAR ID | 2006-005A |
| SATCAT № | 28939 |
| Website | global |
| Mission duration | 5 years, 9 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | ISAS |
| Launch mass | 952 kg (2,099 lb) |
| Dimensions | 5.5 m × 1.9 m × 3.2 m (18.0 ft × 6.2 ft × 10.5 ft) |
| Power | 2006-02-21 21:28 |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 21:28, February 21, 2006 |
| Rocket | M-V-8 |
| Launch site | M-V Pad, Uchinoura Space Center |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | decommissioned |
| Deactivated | November 24, 2011 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Semi-major axis | 6,884 km (4,278 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0129527 |
| Perigee | 423.9 km (263.4 mi) |
| Apogee | 602.3 km (374.3 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.2 degrees |
| Period | 94.7 minutes |
| RAAN | 305.9392 degrees |
| Argument of perigee | 124.2012 degrees |
| Mean anomaly | 354.1441 degrees |
| Mean motion | 15.1995622 rev/day |
| Epoch | 9 July 2015, 13:43:21 UTC |
| Revolution number | 50455 |
| Main | |
| Type | Ritchey–Chrétien |
| Diameter | 0.67 m (2.2 ft) |
| Focal length | 4.2 m (14 ft) |
| Wavelengths | 1.7 to 180 µm (Infrared) |
| Instruments | |
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FIS: Far-Infrared Surveyor IRC: Infra-Red Camera |
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Akari (ASTRO-F) is an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. It was launched on 21 February 2006 at 21:28 UTC (06:28, 22 February JST) by M-V rocket into Earth sun-synchronous orbit. After its launch it was named Akari (明かり), which means light in Japanese. Earlier on, the project was known as IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Surveyor).
Its primary mission was to survey the entire sky in near-, mid- and far-infrared, through its 68.5 cm (27.0 in) aperture telescope.
Its designed lifespan, of far- and mid-infrared sensors, is 550 days, limited by its liquid helium coolant.
Its telescope mirror is made of silicon carbide to save weight. The budget for the satellite was ¥13,4 billion (~US$110 million).
By mid-August 2006, Akari finished around 50 percent of the all sky survey.
By early November 2006, first (phase-1) all-sky survey finished. Second (phase-2) all-sky survey started on 10 November 2006.
Due to the malfunction of sun-sensor after the launch, ejection of telescope aperture lid was delayed, resulting the coolant lifespan estimate to be shortened to about 500 days from launch. However, after JAXA estimated the remaining helium during early March 2007 observation time will be extended at least until 9 September.
On 11 July 2007, JAXA informed that 90 percent of the sky was scanned twice. Also around 3,500 selected targets have been observed so far.
On 26 August 2007, liquid-Helium coolant depleted, which means the completion of far- and mid-infrared observation. 94 percent of the sky was scanned and more than 5,000 pointed observations were done.
British and Japanese project team members were awarded a Daiwa Adrian Prize in 2004 by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in recognition of their collaboration.
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