Akebono (satellite) facts for kids

Akebono (あけぼの) is a special Japanese satellite that was sent into space. Its name, Akebono, means "dawn" in Japanese. This satellite was designed to study amazing things happening around our planet, like the beautiful lights called auroras.

What is the Akebono Satellite?

Akebono is a type of artificial satellite. This means it's a machine built by people and launched into space to orbit Earth. It's like a scientific tool orbiting high above us, sending back important information.

Who Launched Akebono?

The project to send Akebono into space was led by a group in Japan. This group was part of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which is connected to the University of Tokyo. They are experts in space and rockets!

Akebono was launched on February 22, 1989. It was a big moment for Japanese space exploration.

What Was Akebono's Mission?

Akebono had a very important job: to study auroras and the Earth's magnetosphere.

• Auroras: These are the stunning natural light displays you might have seen pictures of, like the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and Southern Lights (Aurora Australis). They happen when charged particles from the Sun hit Earth's atmosphere.
• Magnetosphere: This is like an invisible shield around Earth. It's created by Earth's magnetic field and protects us from harmful radiation and particles from space.

By studying these, Akebono helped scientists understand more about how our planet interacts with the Sun and space weather.

How Long Did Akebono Work?

Akebono was built to be tough! It kept working and sending back data for over 20 years. This is a very long time for a satellite, showing how well it was designed and built.

• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Akebono (Exos-D) mission profile