Category: News

JAXA confirmed the completion of a sequence of important operations of the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “Hitomi” (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 months.

H-IIA F30 with the “ASTRO-H” onboard launched at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17, 2016 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The rocket flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes after liftoff, “ASTRO-H” was separated from the H-IIA F30.
ASTRO-H is the eye to study the hot and energetic universe. Therefore we name ASTRO-H, “Hitomi”. The word “Hitomi”.generally means “eye”, and specifically the pupil, or entrance window of the eye – the aperture!

The launch of the The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 was rescheduled at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17 (Wed. Japan Standard Time, JST) after carefully studying the weather conditions.

The live launch report will begin at 5:25 p.m. on Feb 17(Wed. ,JST). The report will be broadcast through the Internet.
Please send your support messages for the mission!

H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.30 with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” onboard, which was originally scheduled for February 12 (Fri.), 2016 (Japan Standard Time), has been rescheduled because bad weather is expected. The new launch day will be announced as soon as it is determined. Your warm support messages are welcomed at the support site.

As the launch day approaches, JAXA has released the press kit for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H”. It covers ASTRO-H’s satellite and　 mission overview, scientific missions, and observation instruments. Please have a look.

Aiming at the launch and success of the mission, for some years the Astro-H team members have been hard at work at research and development, making steady progress. They have faced many tough obstacles along this long road. They have had many moments of success.
This diary is an introduction to the daily work life — and to the excitements — of these members.

On the day marking exactly one month to launch, the ASTRO-H spacecraft was exhibited to the public at the Tanegashima Space Center. Many questions were asked both about the science goals of ASTRO-H and about its engineering.

The new generation X-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-H is set for launch on February 12 (Fri.), by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 from the Tanegashima Space Center.

JAXA will broadcast a live launch report on the launch day. We will announce more details later. Please look forward to the launch!

The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” was revealed to the media on Nov. 27 at the Tsukuba Space Center.
The ASTRO-H is an astronomy satellite to elucidate the structure of space and its evolution through studying high-temperature and high-energy celestial bodies, such as black holes, supernova remnants, and galaxy clusters by X-rays and gamma-rays.
X-rays and gamma-rays from space are absorbed in the Earth’s atmosphere, thus they cannot be observed on the Earth. Therefore observation in space is necessary.
The ASTRO-H was developed as a successor to the Suzaku, also an X-ray astronomy satellite. The ASTRO-H is a flagship mission of X-ray astronomy with the participation of over 200 researchers in its development from various domestic and international universities and research institutions including JAXA and NASA. Four new observation systems developed based on broad-scale international cooperation are installed on the ASTRO-H, hence, compared to the Suzaku, it will be able to perform spectroscopic observations on celestial bodies 10 times to 100 times darker than what the Suzaku was capable of doing.

The sinusoidal vibration test of the X-ray astronomy satellite “ASTRO-H” was held between Aug. 29 and Oct. 2 at the Tsukuba Space Center. The sinusoidal vibration test aims at two major evaluation objectives, namely evaluating dynamic characteristics of a satellite structure and assessing its strength by loading vibrations equivalent to that at the launch.
On Oct. 2, the last vibration test was completed, then planned dynamic characteristics data was acquired and the strength of the satellite structure against a vibration load equivalent to that at the time of launch was verified.

The thermal vacuum test was held for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” between June 24 and July 9 in a 13-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center. The purposes of the thermal vacuum test are to verify the thermal model by exposing a satellite to the vacuum and thermal environment, and to confirm the function and performance of observation instruments in the on-orbit environment through an electric test.
All tested items were satisfactorily confirmed including the expected performance of the onboard instruments, verification of the command function to be used in orbit, and calibration data acquisition.

Two Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGDs), which successfully went through the thermal vacuum test and the cooling test, were installed onto the ASTRO-H. The photo shows the SGD2 on the ASTRO-H with a debris cover and a radiator. A golden color MLI (multi-layer insulation) will wrap them so that they will not be seen from outside.
All the observation instruments are now installed on the ASTRO-H, so its preparations for launch are turning the final corner. We will work harder to overcome the many remaining hurdles including the functional test, thermal vacuum test, and vibration test.

The Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGD) to observe the soft gamma-ray region of 60 to 600 keV are under the thermal vacuum test in the 8-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center to confirm their thermal design.
The sensor part of the SGD does not activate till the temperature hits a low temperature of minus 20 degrees (C). However, the SGDs will be installed outside of the satellite panel, thus their temperature will increase from radiation from the Sun and the Earth, thermal input from the satellite panel, and heat from a large amount of LSI (large-scale integrated circuits) and an amplifier if nothing is done. Therefore, the accumulating heat will be carried to the radiator through thermal transfer and a heat pipe to be released, and the SGD will be covered by the multi-layer insulation (MLI), which looks like a bunch of aluminum foils, to shut out heat input. The semiconductor sensor is also activated with high voltage of 200 to 1000 V, hence it should also be tested if it would discharge in vacuum.
Photo: The SGD-2 sits in the 8-meter chamber.

As manufacturing of two Hard X-ray Telescopes (HXTs) and two Soft X-ray Telescopes (SXTs) has been completed and their performance has been confirmed, they are going to be subject to the first integration test. During the test, the telescopes will be mounted on an optical board to make sure that there is no interference with other structures or the satellite bus as well as that no problems arise with operations for controlling the telescope position or angle and operation tools.
Photo: Satellite surrounded by a scaffold

JAXA confirmed the completion of a sequence of important operations of the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “Hitomi” (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 months.

H-IIA F30 with the “ASTRO-H” onboard launched at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17, 2016 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The rocket flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes after liftoff, “ASTRO-H” was separated from the H-IIA F30.
ASTRO-H is the eye to study the hot and energetic universe. Therefore we name ASTRO-H, “Hitomi”. The word “Hitomi”.generally means “eye”, and specifically the pupil, or entrance window of the eye – the aperture!

The launch of the The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 was rescheduled at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17 (Wed. Japan Standard Time, JST) after carefully studying the weather conditions.

The live launch report will begin at 5:25 p.m. on Feb 17(Wed. ,JST). The report will be broadcast through the Internet.
Please send your support messages for the mission!

H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.30 with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” onboard, which was originally scheduled for February 12 (Fri.), 2016 (Japan Standard Time), has been rescheduled because bad weather is expected. The new launch day will be announced as soon as it is determined. Your warm support messages are welcomed at the support site.

As the launch day approaches, JAXA has released the press kit for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H”. It covers ASTRO-H’s satellite and　 mission overview, scientific missions, and observation instruments. Please have a look.

Aiming at the launch and success of the mission, for some years the Astro-H team members have been hard at work at research and development, making steady progress. They have faced many tough obstacles along this long road. They have had many moments of success.
This diary is an introduction to the daily work life — and to the excitements — of these members.

On the day marking exactly one month to launch, the ASTRO-H spacecraft was exhibited to the public at the Tanegashima Space Center. Many questions were asked both about the science goals of ASTRO-H and about its engineering.

The new generation X-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-H is set for launch on February 12 (Fri.), by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 from the Tanegashima Space Center.

JAXA will broadcast a live launch report on the launch day. We will announce more details later. Please look forward to the launch!

The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” was revealed to the media on Nov. 27 at the Tsukuba Space Center.
The ASTRO-H is an astronomy satellite to elucidate the structure of space and its evolution through studying high-temperature and high-energy celestial bodies, such as black holes, supernova remnants, and galaxy clusters by X-rays and gamma-rays.
X-rays and gamma-rays from space are absorbed in the Earth’s atmosphere, thus they cannot be observed on the Earth. Therefore observation in space is necessary.
The ASTRO-H was developed as a successor to the Suzaku, also an X-ray astronomy satellite. The ASTRO-H is a flagship mission of X-ray astronomy with the participation of over 200 researchers in its development from various domestic and international universities and research institutions including JAXA and NASA. Four new observation systems developed based on broad-scale international cooperation are installed on the ASTRO-H, hence, compared to the Suzaku, it will be able to perform spectroscopic observations on celestial bodies 10 times to 100 times darker than what the Suzaku was capable of doing.

The sinusoidal vibration test of the X-ray astronomy satellite “ASTRO-H” was held between Aug. 29 and Oct. 2 at the Tsukuba Space Center. The sinusoidal vibration test aims at two major evaluation objectives, namely evaluating dynamic characteristics of a satellite structure and assessing its strength by loading vibrations equivalent to that at the launch.
On Oct. 2, the last vibration test was completed, then planned dynamic characteristics data was acquired and the strength of the satellite structure against a vibration load equivalent to that at the time of launch was verified.

The thermal vacuum test was held for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” between June 24 and July 9 in a 13-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center. The purposes of the thermal vacuum test are to verify the thermal model by exposing a satellite to the vacuum and thermal environment, and to confirm the function and performance of observation instruments in the on-orbit environment through an electric test.
All tested items were satisfactorily confirmed including the expected performance of the onboard instruments, verification of the command function to be used in orbit, and calibration data acquisition.

Two Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGDs), which successfully went through the thermal vacuum test and the cooling test, were installed onto the ASTRO-H. The photo shows the SGD2 on the ASTRO-H with a debris cover and a radiator. A golden color MLI (multi-layer insulation) will wrap them so that they will not be seen from outside.
All the observation instruments are now installed on the ASTRO-H, so its preparations for launch are turning the final corner. We will work harder to overcome the many remaining hurdles including the functional test, thermal vacuum test, and vibration test.

The Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGD) to observe the soft gamma-ray region of 60 to 600 keV are under the thermal vacuum test in the 8-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center to confirm their thermal design.
The sensor part of the SGD does not activate till the temperature hits a low temperature of minus 20 degrees (C). However, the SGDs will be installed outside of the satellite panel, thus their temperature will increase from radiation from the Sun and the Earth, thermal input from the satellite panel, and heat from a large amount of LSI (large-scale integrated circuits) and an amplifier if nothing is done. Therefore, the accumulating heat will be carried to the radiator through thermal transfer and a heat pipe to be released, and the SGD will be covered by the multi-layer insulation (MLI), which looks like a bunch of aluminum foils, to shut out heat input. The semiconductor sensor is also activated with high voltage of 200 to 1000 V, hence it should also be tested if it would discharge in vacuum.
Photo: The SGD-2 sits in the 8-meter chamber.

As manufacturing of two Hard X-ray Telescopes (HXTs) and two Soft X-ray Telescopes (SXTs) has been completed and their performance has been confirmed, they are going to be subject to the first integration test. During the test, the telescopes will be mounted on an optical board to make sure that there is no interference with other structures or the satellite bus as well as that no problems arise with operations for controlling the telescope position or angle and operation tools.
Photo: Satellite surrounded by a scaffold

DAICHI-2 received an award for its contributions to anti-disaster operations by the council (*) on March 16, 2016. DAICHI-2 performs emergency observations in response to requests from disaster preparation agencies, and swiftly provides data to understand signs of disasters and their status.
For emergency observations of a volcanic eruption at Kuchinoerabu Island, we provided observation data about four hours after the explosion following a request from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The data analysis results by disaster prevention agencies was then reported to the Coordinating Committee for the Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions of the JMA to learn about the changes in the crater, falling ash, and pyroclastic flows. (Image: Kuchinoerabu Island just after the eruption shot by DAICHI-2)
When volcanic activity begun at Sakurajima and Hakone, DAICHI-2 also observed the status with its capacity of detecting tectonic movements down to centimeters. The acquired data was also analyzed by disaster prevention agencies for use by JMA to determine the level of alert/warning issues and for respective municipal governments to set up access restrictions.
JAXA continues to support disaster measures through satellite technology.

* Central emergency communications council: The council was established for smooth communication in times of emergencies like a natural disaster, and it honors individuals and organizations that make significant achievements in this area.

JAXA concluded an agreement with the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on April 30, 2015, to provide observation data by the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2). The purpose of the agreement is to survey (1) secular changes of landscape and ash fall and (2) isolated islands for their up keep. We will work together to conduct surveys more efficiently with broader covering areas by mutually sharing and studying observation data possessed by the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau and JAXA’s satellite data.
Taking this opportunity of concluding the agreement, we would like to contribute to a safe and secure society by expanding the use of satellites.

After the calibration and validation of ALOS-2/CIRC, JAXA confirmed the data quality of ALOS-2/CIRC is adequate. All ALOS-2/CIRC data is avaliable from CIRC observation data search, if user follows the CIRC data policy.
The ultimate goal of the CIRC project is to minimize the damage and impact caused by forest fires, as well as contributing to urban planning and our understanding of volcanic disasters.

JAXA began regular provision of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2) observation data today as we have completed its initial functional confirmation and calibration operations as scheduled.
The ALOS-2 Data Distribution Consortium is the contact point for general users to receive DAICHI-2 observation data. Please refer to the press release for further information.

Mt. Ontake straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures erupted at 11:52 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2014. JAXA has been observing the volcanic activity and its impact by earth observation satellites. The DAICHI-2 acquired data on Mt. Ontake on Sept. 27, 28, and 29. As it started regular observation operations in early August and captured some images of Mt. Ontake prior to the eruption, we can compare images taken before and after the incident to study changes and the situation.
The following image is a bird’s-eye view near the peak of Mt. Ontake after the eruption. A depression is found in the area circled yellow.
For more details of the observation result by the DAICHI-2, please refer to the following website.

Compact Infrared Camera (CIRC) is a technology demonstration payload onboard the DAICHI-2. CIRC is an infrared sensor intended for observing forest fires, volcanoes, and heat island phenomena.
Since the initial functional verification phase (July 4-14, 2014), CIRC has acquired the following images of Earth.
Image: Night image of California (CST 00:20).

JAXA acquired images from the PALSAR-2 aboard the “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2).
The DAICHI-2 was launched on May 24, 2014, and it is currently under initial functional verification. The images were captured during the verification stage.

The DAICHI-2’s observation data is expected to contribute to understanding damages from a disaster, monitoring deforestation, and more efficiently understanding farming areas.
We plan to start offering images to the general public in late November.

The DAICHI-2 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on May 24 performed important tasks including L-band synthetic aperture radar deployment after its injection into the orbit, thus its critical operation phase was successfully completed.
The DAICHI-2 will take about two and a half months to verify the function of its onboard equipment and instruments in space. We expect to be able to publish images taken by the DAICHI-2 for the first time in a few weeks to a month, if everything goes as scheduled.

The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 24 with The Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2) aboard was successfully performed at 12:05:14 p.m. on May 24 (Sat.) 2014 (Japan Standard Time).
The launch vehicle flew normally and separated the DAICHI-2 at about 15 minutes and 47 seconds after liftoff. The DAICHI-2 will conduct critical phase operations including deploying the PALSER-2 antenna. We await your support messages!

The launch time of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 14 (H-IIA F14) with the DAICHI-2 onboard was set for 12:05:14 p.m. on May 24 (Sat.) 2014 (Japan Standard Time).
JAXA will broadcast a live launch report from the Tanegashima Space Center from 11:15 a.m. on the day. You can watch it through the Internet at home. Please do not miss this event!
Please send your support messages for the mission, or tweet it including the hashtag #daichi2.

On March 28 (Fri.), the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2”(ALOS-2) was revealed to the press at the Spacecraft Test and Assembly Building 2 (STA-2) at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC.)
Project manager Shinichi Suzuki, who has been involved in the project since the DAICHI, the predecessor of the DAICHI-2, commented, “We have developed high-quality radar and data transmission technologies this time. Whenever our test results did not seem logical, we discussed the results in cooperation with the manufacturer and related workers to find a solution. Now, I would like to brace myself for the launch.”

The DAICHI-2 will be launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 24 on May 24 (Sat.) after going through final preparations. Once the DAICHI-2 is launched, we hope it will work hard for us without coming back to the Earth again.
DAICHI-2, have a safe trip under the best preparations!

Support messages for the DAICHI-2 launch are welcomed at the special site.

We would like to report to you the transportation of the DAICHI-2 (ALOS-2) from the Mitsubishi Electric’s Kamakura Works, where its assembly and tests were conducted, to the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC).
Preparation for the transportation began around noon on Feb. 21.After midnight, or in the very early morning of the 22nd, the DAICHI, packed in a container, was loaded onto a large truck to go to Kawasaki Port.
The container was then placed on a boat at the port to make a 56-hour trip by sea to Shimama Port on Tanegashima Island.
The container unloaded from the ship waited on a large tractor till late at night when traffic became lighter, and it was transported to the TNSC.
The DAICH-2 was moved into the Spacecraft Test and Assembly Building 2 (STA2) at the TNSC and unpacked there. The satellite will undergo various checks there.

The launch date and time for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 24 (H-IIA F24) with the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2) onboard was decided to be at around 12:05 p.m. thru 12:20 p.m. (JST) on May 24 (Sat.,) 2014 (Japan Standard Time.)
The “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2) is a follow-on mission from the “DAICHI” (ALOS). It is equipped with the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR-2), and its major mission objectives are to secure the safety of people’s lives and to solve global environmental problems.
The latest information about the DAICHI-2 and its launch preparation status will be updated on this page.

The thermal vacuum test for the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “ALOS-2” started on Oct. 16th at the Tsukuba Space Center. It is scheduled to be completed in late November.
The thermal vacuum test is to verify if electric functions and thermal controls of the satellite properly work in the 13mφ space chamber that simulates the space environment.
The photo here was taken on Oct. 3^rd. It shows the satellite’s main body preparing for the test.

From March 5 to 9, JAXA conducted impulse response evaluation of the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR-2) aboard Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) under vacuum environment in 6-Meter-Diameter Radiometer Space Chamber Building at the Tsukuba Space Center.
The impulse response evaluation under vacuum environment is to verify the PALSAR-2’s performance and functions in a vacuum environment that is close to that in space.
PALSAR-2 is additionally installed with a new observation function called“Spotlight mode.” Thus its resolution target is one to three meters, which is far better than its predecessor ALOS/PALSAR, whose resolution is about 10 meters. Also, the PALSAR-2 can enlarge its observation area by about three times so that it can quickly provide data with higher accuracy and increase observation frequency.

JAXA confirmed the completion of a sequence of important operations of the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “Hitomi” (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 months.

H-IIA F30 with the “ASTRO-H” onboard launched at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17, 2016 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The rocket flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes after liftoff, “ASTRO-H” was separated from the H-IIA F30.
ASTRO-H is the eye to study the hot and energetic universe. Therefore we name ASTRO-H, “Hitomi”. The word “Hitomi”.generally means “eye”, and specifically the pupil, or entrance window of the eye – the aperture!

The launch of the The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 was rescheduled at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17 (Wed. Japan Standard Time, JST) after carefully studying the weather conditions.

The live launch report will begin at 5:25 p.m. on Feb 17(Wed. ,JST). The report will be broadcast through the Internet.
Please send your support messages for the mission!

H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.30 with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” onboard, which was originally scheduled for February 12 (Fri.), 2016 (Japan Standard Time), has been rescheduled because bad weather is expected. The new launch day will be announced as soon as it is determined. Your warm support messages are welcomed at the support site.

As the launch day approaches, JAXA has released the press kit for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H”. It covers ASTRO-H’s satellite and　 mission overview, scientific missions, and observation instruments. Please have a look.

Aiming at the launch and success of the mission, for some years the Astro-H team members have been hard at work at research and development, making steady progress. They have faced many tough obstacles along this long road. They have had many moments of success.
This diary is an introduction to the daily work life — and to the excitements — of these members.

On the day marking exactly one month to launch, the ASTRO-H spacecraft was exhibited to the public at the Tanegashima Space Center. Many questions were asked both about the science goals of ASTRO-H and about its engineering.

The new generation X-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-H is set for launch on February 12 (Fri.), by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 from the Tanegashima Space Center.

JAXA will broadcast a live launch report on the launch day. We will announce more details later. Please look forward to the launch!

The X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” was revealed to the media on Nov. 27 at the Tsukuba Space Center.
The ASTRO-H is an astronomy satellite to elucidate the structure of space and its evolution through studying high-temperature and high-energy celestial bodies, such as black holes, supernova remnants, and galaxy clusters by X-rays and gamma-rays.
X-rays and gamma-rays from space are absorbed in the Earth’s atmosphere, thus they cannot be observed on the Earth. Therefore observation in space is necessary.
The ASTRO-H was developed as a successor to the Suzaku, also an X-ray astronomy satellite. The ASTRO-H is a flagship mission of X-ray astronomy with the participation of over 200 researchers in its development from various domestic and international universities and research institutions including JAXA and NASA. Four new observation systems developed based on broad-scale international cooperation are installed on the ASTRO-H, hence, compared to the Suzaku, it will be able to perform spectroscopic observations on celestial bodies 10 times to 100 times darker than what the Suzaku was capable of doing.

The sinusoidal vibration test of the X-ray astronomy satellite “ASTRO-H” was held between Aug. 29 and Oct. 2 at the Tsukuba Space Center. The sinusoidal vibration test aims at two major evaluation objectives, namely evaluating dynamic characteristics of a satellite structure and assessing its strength by loading vibrations equivalent to that at the launch.
On Oct. 2, the last vibration test was completed, then planned dynamic characteristics data was acquired and the strength of the satellite structure against a vibration load equivalent to that at the time of launch was verified.

The thermal vacuum test was held for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite “ASTRO-H” between June 24 and July 9 in a 13-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center. The purposes of the thermal vacuum test are to verify the thermal model by exposing a satellite to the vacuum and thermal environment, and to confirm the function and performance of observation instruments in the on-orbit environment through an electric test.
All tested items were satisfactorily confirmed including the expected performance of the onboard instruments, verification of the command function to be used in orbit, and calibration data acquisition.

Two Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGDs), which successfully went through the thermal vacuum test and the cooling test, were installed onto the ASTRO-H. The photo shows the SGD2 on the ASTRO-H with a debris cover and a radiator. A golden color MLI (multi-layer insulation) will wrap them so that they will not be seen from outside.
All the observation instruments are now installed on the ASTRO-H, so its preparations for launch are turning the final corner. We will work harder to overcome the many remaining hurdles including the functional test, thermal vacuum test, and vibration test.

The Soft Gamma-ray Detectors (SGD) to observe the soft gamma-ray region of 60 to 600 keV are under the thermal vacuum test in the 8-meter chamber at the Tsukuba Space Center to confirm their thermal design.
The sensor part of the SGD does not activate till the temperature hits a low temperature of minus 20 degrees (C). However, the SGDs will be installed outside of the satellite panel, thus their temperature will increase from radiation from the Sun and the Earth, thermal input from the satellite panel, and heat from a large amount of LSI (large-scale integrated circuits) and an amplifier if nothing is done. Therefore, the accumulating heat will be carried to the radiator through thermal transfer and a heat pipe to be released, and the SGD will be covered by the multi-layer insulation (MLI), which looks like a bunch of aluminum foils, to shut out heat input. The semiconductor sensor is also activated with high voltage of 200 to 1000 V, hence it should also be tested if it would discharge in vacuum.
Photo: The SGD-2 sits in the 8-meter chamber.

As manufacturing of two Hard X-ray Telescopes (HXTs) and two Soft X-ray Telescopes (SXTs) has been completed and their performance has been confirmed, they are going to be subject to the first integration test. During the test, the telescopes will be mounted on an optical board to make sure that there is no interference with other structures or the satellite bus as well as that no problems arise with operations for controlling the telescope position or angle and operation tools.
Photo: Satellite surrounded by a scaffold