JAXA's ASTRO-H satellite loses contact after launch

1oldman2 · Mar 28, 2016

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/

ProfuselyQuarky · Mar 28, 2016

This is disappointing, but they might ~possibly~ recover it. Reminds me of the Mars Climate Orbiter.

1oldman2 · Mar 28, 2016

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.

ProfuselyQuarky · Mar 28, 2016

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?

1oldman2 · Mar 29, 2016

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.

1oldman2 · May 31, 2016

Here there be lessons.
http://spaceflight101.com/hitomi-failure-cutting-corners/

ProfuselyQuarky · May 31, 2016

1oldman2 said:

Here there be lessons.
http://spaceflight101.com/hitomi-failure-cutting-corners/

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...

1oldman2 · May 31, 2016

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.

davenn · May 31, 2016

1oldman2 said:

now just more "space junk".

and not even that any more for parts of it ... some has already re-entered the Earth's atmosphere

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/deep-space-imaging-and-stacking-images-for-less-noise.872921/D

davenn · May 31, 2016

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