NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2005-025A
Suzaku (Astro-E2) is a Japanese (ISAS/JAXA) astronomy satellite. Suzaku is Japan's fifth X-ray astronomy satellite and the third for which the US has provided a significant part of the scientifc payload. It will monitor the universe in the 0.3-700 keV X-ray band, in conjunction with the Chandra (NASA) and XMM-Newton (ESA) satellites. Suzaku is designed to obtain precise measurements of high-energy processes in stars, supernova remnants, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the environments around neutron stars and black holes. Suzaku is equipped with X-ray telescopes and two instruments: The XIS (X-ray Imaging Spectrometer) and the HXD (Hard X-ray Detector). Suzaku also carries a third instrument, the XRS (X-ray Spectrometer), but the XRS lost all its cryogen before routine scientific observations could begin.
Suzaku is the recovery mission for ASTRO-E, which did not achieve orbit during launch in February 2000. The 1,600 kg, 500 W, octagonal (2 m x 5 m), triaxially-stabilized spacecraft carries six instruments, covering the sky between 60 degrees and 120 degrees away from the Sun. The mission has significant participation from NASA and MIT.
Launch Date: 2005-07-10
Launch Vehicle: M-5
Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
Mass: 1600 kg
Nominal Power: 500 W
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. H. Inoue | Project Manager | Nagoya University | |
Dr. Nicholas E. White | Program Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | white@heagip.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Hideyo Kunieda | Program Scientist | Nagoya University | |
Dr. Richard L. Kelley | Mission Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | kelley@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Project Home Page (JAXA)
Suzaku Guest Observor Facility (HEASARC)
X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) (MIT)
X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) (NASA GSFC)
Hard X-ray Detector (HXD) (U. Tokyo)