X-ray Observatory ASTRO-H

X-ray Observatory ASTRO-H

17 February 2016, 17:45 local time, Japan made a successful launch of the carrier rocket H-IIA, which has carried out a conclusion in outer space new x-ray telescope ASTRO-H, which became the most powerful and the most advanced x-ray astronomical instrument to date. The missile launch was performed from the launch pad of the cosmodrome and Tanegashima flight, during which were produced the procedure of separating the two exhaust stages, went almost flawlessly. As a result, the telescope ASTRO-H was on orbit after 14 minutes and 15 seconds after launch.

The composition of the Observatory ASTRO-H consists of four x-ray telescope, covering the ranges of soft x-rays, hard x-ray and gamma radiation. This tool will allow scientists astronomers obtain highly detailed images and to collect other scientific information regarding gas clouds caught by the gravitational traps of clusters of galaxies, supernova explosions, the superhot matter surrounding black holes, and other high-energy astronomical objects and phenomena. Scientists expect that this will allow them to make many new discoveries, which could not be done using existing tools from the previous generation.

The launch telescope ASTRO-H is the result of the execution of the international program, which involved the Institute of Space and Astronautical science (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) of the Japanese Space Agency (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA. The entire team of mission ASTRO-H has 240 scientists representing 60 scientific and research institutions from Japan, North America and Europe.

According to Japanese tradition, after the launch of the x-ray Observatory got its own new name "Hitomi", which is a replacement of the official name of the mission ASTRO-H. In translation from Japanese "Hitomi" means "Eyes", which symbolizes the ability to throw a new perspective on the depths of the Universe.

In the next few months, technical experts of the mission will be engaged in testing, calibrating and testing all instruments and components of the Observatory ASTRO-H. in the operation of this astronomical instrument will be introduced later this year.