Hitomi (satellite)

*Hitomi* (ひとみ)
	Artist depiction of Hitomi satellite
Names	ASTRO-H; New X-ray Telescope (NeXT)
Mission type	X-ray astronomy
Operator	JAXA
COSPAR ID	2016-012A
SATCAT no.	41337
Mission duration	3 years (planned); ≈37 days and 16 hours (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Dimensions	Length: 14 m (46 ft)
Power	3500 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	17 February 2016, 08:45 UTC
Rocket	H-IIA 202, No. 30
Launch site	Tanegashima Space Center
End of mission
Disposal	Destroyed on orbit
Destroyed	26 March 2016, ≈01:42 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	559.85 km (347.87 mi)
Apogee altitude	581.10 km (361.08 mi)
Inclination	31.01°
Period	96.0 minutes
SXS
Instruments
SXS	Soft X-ray Spectrometer
HXI	Hard X-ray Imager
SXI	Soft X-ray Imager
SGD	Soft Gamma-ray Detector
	X-ray astronomy satellite in Japan

Hitomi (Japanese: ひとみ), also known as ASTRO-H and New X-ray Telescope (NeXT), was an X-ray astronomy satellite commissioned by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for studying extremely energetic processes in the Universe. The space observatory was designed to extend the research conducted by the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) by investigating the hard X-ray band above 10 keV. The satellite was originally called New X-ray Telescope; at the time of launch it was called ASTRO-H. After it was placed in orbit and its solar panels deployed, it was renamed Hitomi. The spacecraft was launched on 17 February 2016 and contact was lost on 26 March 2016, due to multiple incidents with the attitude control system leading to an uncontrolled spin rate and breakup of structurally weak elements.

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