Hakucho facts for kids
Hakucho (はくちょう) was a special Japanese artificial satellite that was sent into orbit around Earth. Think of it like a robot explorer launched into space!
This important space mission was a project led by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which is part of the University of Tokyo. They worked hard to design and launch this satellite.
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Hakucho: Japan's First X-ray Eye in Space
Hakucho was launched on February 21, 1979. It stayed in space, doing its job, for several years. Eventually, it came back into Earth's atmosphere on April 15, 1985, where it safely burned up and melted.
What is an X-ray Astronomy Satellite?
Hakucho was very special because it was Japan's very first x-ray astronomy satellite. But what does that mean?
- X-rays are a type of light that we can't see with our eyes, like the X-rays doctors use to look at your bones.
- Astronomy is the study of space, stars, planets, and everything beyond Earth.
So, an X-ray astronomy satellite is like a special telescope in space that can "see" X-rays coming from objects far away in the universe. These X-rays come from very hot and energetic places, like black holes or exploding stars. By studying these X-rays, scientists can learn amazing things about the universe that regular telescopes can't show them.
Why Hakucho Was Important
Before Hakucho, scientists in Japan didn't have their own satellite to study X-rays from space. Hakucho helped them explore the universe in a new way and made important discoveries about cosmic X-ray sources. It paved the way for future Japanese space missions that continued to explore the mysteries of the cosmos.
Further Reading
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Hakucho (CORSA-b) mission profile
- NASA, Hakucho (CORSA-b) satellite
