- AKARI
Infobox Space telescope
name = AKARI
caption = Artist's conception of AKARI
organization = JAXA
alt_names = ASTRO-F, IRIS
nssdc_id = [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=2006-005A 2006-005A]
location =Low Earth orbit
orbit_type =
height = 694.5 km
period = 96.6 min
velocity =
accel_gravity =
launch_date =2006-02-21
launch_location =Uchinoura Space Center ,Japan
deorbit_date =
wavelength =infrared
mass = 955 kg
style = Richey-Chrétien reflector
diameter = 0.67 m
area =
focal_length = 4.2 m (189 ft)
instrument_1_name = Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS)
instrument_1_characteristics = far-infrared camera/spectrometer
instrument_2_name = Infra-Red Camera (IRC)
instrument_2_characteristics = nowrap|near-infrared camera/spectrometer
website = [http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/index_e.html www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/index_e.html]AKARI (launched under the name ASTRO-F) is an
infrared astronomy satellite developed byJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency , in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. It was launched on 21:28,February 21 ,2006 UTC (06:28,February 22 JST) by M-V rocket intoEarth sun-synchronous orbit . After its launch it was named "AKARI" (あかり).Its primary mission is to survey the entire sky in near-, mid- and far-
infrared , through its 68.5cm aperture telescope.Its designed lifespan, of far- and mid-infrared sensors, is 550 days, limited by its liquid
helium coolant.Near-infrared sensor will continue to operate after that with mechanical coolers at 40K.The satellite is three-axis stabilized and the telescope is directed anti-Earth direction while the bus module faces toward Earth, to shield the telescope from the heat of Earth surface. The orbit is sun-synchronous and one side of the satellite is always directed toward Sun, and the telescope axis perpendicular to Sun, which simplifies heat shield design.
Its telescope mirror is made of
silicon carbide to save weight. The budget for the satellite was 13,4 billion Yen. (~110 Million US-Dollar) [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20060228a1.html]tatus
By mid-August 2006, AKARI finished around 50 % of the all sky survey. [http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Observation/Newsletter/afnl_e_016.txt]
By early November 2006, first (phase-1) all-sky survey finished. Second (phase-2) all-sky survey started on
November 10 2006 . [http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/jpn/profile/about/technology/field/2007/akari.htm]Due to the malfunction of sun-sensor after the launch, the 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 September 9th. [http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Observation/Newsletter/afnl_e_018.txt]
On
July 11 ,2007 , JAXA informed that 90% of the sky was scanned twice. Also around 3500 selected targets have been observed so far. [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/snews/2007/0711.shtml]On
August 26 ,2007 , liquid-Helium coolant depleted, which means the completion of far- and mid-infrared observation. 94% of the sky was scanned and more than 5000 pointed observations were done. [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/snews/2007/0828.shtml]The British and Japanese project team members were awarded a
Daiwa Adrian Prize in 2004 byThe Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in recognition of their collaboration.During December
2007 JAXA performed orbit correction manoeuvres to bring AKARI back into its ideal orbit. This was necessary because the boiled off Helium led to an increase in altitude. If this would have continued energy supply would have been cut off. [http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Observation/Newsletter/afnl_e_021.txt]Results
http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/results/results_e.html
*Star formation over three generations in thenebula IC4954/4955 in the constellationVulpecula *The first infrared detection of a supernova remnant in the
Small Magellanic Cloud *Detection of mass-loss from relatively young red-giant stars in the
globular cluster NGC 104 *Detection of the molecular gas surrounding the
active galactic nucleus in the ultra luminous infrared galaxy*The constellation Orion and the winter Milky Way at 140 micrometre
*Star forming region in the constellation Cygnus
*Active star formation viewed from the outside: The peculiar spiral galaxy M101
ee also
*
IRAS
*COBE
*Infrared Space Observatory
*Spitzer Space Telescope
* Herschel
*Infrared astronomy
*Space telescope
*List of spaceflights (2006) External links
* [http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/index_e.html JAXA/ISAS ASTRO-F mission information]
* [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=ASTROF Astro-F Mission Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov NASA's Solar System Exploration]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.