ASTRO-H Failure Puts Promising Mission in Jeopardy | JAXA Update

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the challenges faced by the ASTRO-H mission, also known as HITOMI, following reports of potential failure and loss of contact. Participants express disappointment and concern over the implications for the mission's scientific contributions, while also reflecting on past space mission failures and the lessons that can be drawn from them. The scope includes technical details about the launch process, mission objectives, and the broader context of space exploration.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express disappointment over the potential loss of the ASTRO-H mission, comparing it to the Mars Climate Orbiter incident.
  • There are reports of "break up" concerning the satellite, leading to uncertainty about its status and future recovery efforts.
  • Discussion includes the launch delays attributed to weather conditions and other factors, with some participants correcting earlier claims about the reasons for the delays.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of losing the HITOMI observatory and the valuable data it could have provided.
  • Participants reflect on the perceived lack of attention to detail by JAXA in the mission's planning and execution.
  • Some mention that parts of the satellite have already re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to concerns about space debris.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express disappointment and concern regarding the mission's status, but there is no consensus on the likelihood of recovery or the implications of the failure. Multiple competing views remain regarding the causes of the launch delays and the overall management of the mission.

Contextual Notes

Participants note various assumptions and uncertainties regarding the mission's status, including conflicting reports about the cause of launch delays and the current state of the satellite. The discussion reflects a range of perspectives on the implications of the mission's challenges.

1oldman2
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A bad start to a very promising mission.
http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/astro_h/topics.html#topics7238
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/satellite-may-be-lost-in-space-japan-space-agency/

And in an unrelated mission fiasco.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a20044/exomars-narrow-escape-launch-disaster/

I have been very interested in the ASTRO-H mission since before the launch, hope they can recover contact.
The situation gets even more convoluted...
https://twitter.com/JAXA_en
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/bad-news-for-jaxas-hitomi-observatory-28032016/
 
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Astronomy news on Phys.org
This is disappointing, but they might ~possibly~ recover it. Reminds me of the Mars Climate Orbiter.
 
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ProfuselyQuarky said:
This is disappointing, but they might ~possibly~ recover it. Reminds me of the Mars Climate Orbiter.
My fingers are crossed but reports of "break up" are coming in, sounds like JAXA isn't writing it off yet so we will have to see how it goes, I hate to see an instrument like this go to the graveyard.
 
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1oldman2 said:
My fingers are crossed but reports of "break up" are coming in, sounds like JAXA isn't writing it off yet so we will have to see how it goes, I hate to see an instrument like this go to the graveyard.
Definitely! We'll see how it goes. Didn't they have trouble with the launching, too, because of weather?
 
ProfuselyQuarky said:
Definitely! We'll see how it goes. Didn't they have trouble with the launching, too, because of weather?
I believe ASTRO-H(HITOMI) had a short delay because of a boat down range, not unlike one of the Falcon launch aborts recently. The next launch which was a telecommunications satellite and was held up several days because of weather.
 
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ProfuselyQuarky said:
Nice article! You'd think that JAXA would have paid more attention to detail in the beginning if they considered how much of a lost it would be to lose the Hitomi observatory...
The more I read about it the harder it gets to believe... So many fiascos, three passes ignored while it asked for input, so many opportunities to salvage the mission, now just more "space junk". The data that "scope" could have provided would have been so important. :frown:
 
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  • #10
1oldman2 said:
I believe ASTRO-H(HITOMI) had a short delay because of a boat down range, not unlike one of the Falcon launch aborts recently. The next launch which was a telecommunications satellite and was held up several days because of weather.

no, it was weather ...

Feb. 12, 2016 Updated
The X-ray Astronomy Satellite "ASTRO-H" launch postponement
H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.30 with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite "ASTRO-H" onboard, which was originally scheduled for February 12 (Fri.), 2016 (Japan Standard Time), has been rescheduled because bad weather is expected. The new launch day will be announced as soon as it is determined. Your warm support messages are welcomed at the support site.

Feb. 14, 2016 Updated
ASTRO-H Launch rescheduled to 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17 (Wed. ,JST)
The launch of the The X-ray Astronomy Satellite "ASTRO-H" by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 was rescheduled at 5:45 p.m. on Feb 17 (Wed. Japan Standard Time, JST) after carefully studying the weather conditions.D
 
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  • #11
:headbang: Bad case of launch confusion, sorry about that. :smile:
 
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1oldman2 said:
:headbang: Bad case of launch confusion, sorry about that. :smile:

tis all good ... I live in the "State of Confusion " :-p
 
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  • #13
davenn said:
tis all good ... I live in the "State of Confusion " :-p
Looks like we're neighbors then! I've been told by friends that I belong on Bewilderment Boulevard ... wherever that is :rolleyes:
 
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  • #14
At least something was salvaged. :smile:
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard...-winds-of-a-galaxy-cluster-for-the-first-time

pera_optical_registered.jpg

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v535/n7610/full/nature18627.html
 
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