NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1993-011A
The objective of this mission was to perform spectroscopic X-Ray astronomy in the wavelength band 1--12 KeV, with particular emphasis on spectroscopy of the iron K band. Another objective of ASCA was imaging of the structure of extended sources such as clusters of galaxies and supernova remnants. ASCA carried four identical telescopes with a total effective area of 1300 cm**2 at 1 KeV and 600 cm**2 at 6--7 KeV. ASCA was a cooperative mission between Japan (ISAS) and NASA. NASA provided four conical grazing incidence, multilayer thin foil mirrors. Two CCD-based detectors were provided by MIT. Japan provided the imaging gas scintillation proportional counters (IGSPC), the spacecraft, the launch vehicle, and a ground station. In return for its scientific instrument contribution, NASA was allocated 15% of the observing time after the initial seven or eight month Performance Verification (PV) period. In addition, 25% of the observing time was set aside for collaborative proposals between US and Japanese scientists.
The satellite was launched on February 20, 1993. A solar flare on 14 July 2000 caused heating and expansion of the upper atmosphere, which increased the drag and external torque on ASCA. The attitude was perturbed, so the solar panels lost lock on the Sun, resulting in discharge of the batteries. ASCA reentered the atmosphere on March 2, 2001.
Launch Date: 1993-02-20
Launch Vehicle: M-3SII
Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
Mass: 420 kg
Nominal Power: 602 W
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Guenter R. Reigler | Project Manager | NASA Headquarters | griegler@mail.hq.nasa.gov |
Mr. Jerre B. Hartman | Project Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | jerre.hartman@omitron.com |
Prof. Yasuo Tanaka | Project Scientist | Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science | |
Dr. Alan N. Bunner | Program Scientist | NASA Headquarters | |
Dr. Stephen S. Holt | Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | holt@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Nicholas E. White | Deputy Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | white@heagip.gsfc.nasa.gov |
The ASCA Archive at HEASARC
Japan ASCA Data Archive at ISAS
ASCA mission page at ISAS
The UK ASCA Data Archive at Leicester