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EntityQ54376· pop 18· linked from 368 articles

Also known as ASTRO-B, Tenma X-ray Satellite Mission

Tenma, known as ASTRO-B before launch, was a Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. It was launched on 20 February 1983, using a M-3S rocket on the M-3S-3 mission. It was the second X-ray observatory successfully operated by Japan after Hakucho (CORSA-B), and it had a superior temporal and spectral sensitivity compared to its predecessor.

Key facts

Spaceflight.name
Tenma
Spaceflight.names_list
ASTRO-B
Spaceflight.image
Astro-b tenma.gif
Spaceflight.image_caption
Tenma (Japanese for "Pegasus")
Spaceflight.COSPAR_ID
1983-011A
Spaceflight.SATCAT
13829
Spaceflight.operator
ISAS
Spaceflight.mission_type
X-ray astronomy
Spaceflight.launch_date
20 February 1983, 05:10 UTC
Spaceflight.launch_rocket
M-3S
Spaceflight.launch_site
Kagoshima Space Center
Spaceflight.disposal_type
Decommissioned
Spaceflight.last_contact
17 December 1988
Spaceflight.decay_date
19 January 1989
Spaceflight.orbit_reference
Geocentric
Spaceflight.orbit_regime
Low Earth
Spaceflight.orbit_inclination
31.5°
Spaceflight.orbit_period
94 minutes

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Astro-b tenma.gif
Show 1 more fact
UTC date of spacecraft launch
1983-02-20
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

~1 min read

Article

5 sections
Contents
  • Highlights
  • References
  • Notes
  • Citations
  • External links

Tenma, known as ASTRO-B before launch, was a Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. It was launched on 20 February 1983, using a M-3S rocket on the M-3S-3 mission. It was the second X-ray observatory successfully operated by Japan after Hakucho (CORSA-B), and it had a superior temporal and spectral sensitivity compared to its predecessor.

Battery failure in July 1984 caused the operation to become limited, and continuing problems lead to the termination of X-ray observation on 11 November 1985, however it remained in sporadic contact until 17 December 1988. It reentered the atmosphere on 19 January 1989.

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