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Mission type | X Ray Celestial Observation |
---|---|
Operator | Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Japan) |
COSPAR ID | 1979-014A |
SATCAT no. | 11272 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Launch mass | 96.0 kilograms (211.6 lb) |
Dimensions | ⌀760mm×650mm |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 21 February 1979 UTC |
Rocket | M-3C-Rocket (mission 4) |
Launch site | Uchinoura Space Center, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan |
End of mission | |
Decay date | April 15, 1985 |
Hakucho (also known as CORSA-b before launch; CORSA stands for Cosmic Radiation Satellite) was Japan's first X-ray astronomy satellite, developed by the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science (then a division of the University of Tokyo). It was launched from the Kagoshima Space Center by the ISAS M-3C rocket on the M-3C-4 mission on February 21, 1979 [1] and reentered the atmosphere on April 15, 1985. [2]
Hakucho was a replacement for the Cosmic Radiation Satellite (CORSA) satellite which failed to launch due to rocket failure on February 4, 1976. [3]
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