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ESA joins forces with Japan on new infrared sky surveyor

22 February 2006

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ASTRO-F, now called AKARI, is successfully launched

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The ASTRO-F satellite is launched aboard the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 8 (M-V-8) at 06:28 on 22 February 2006, Japan Standard Time (JST) from the Uchinoura Space Center (USC).

The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and it was confirmed that the satellite was safely injected into its scheduled orbit. When in orbit, ASTRO-F was given a nickname of 'AKARI' (meaning a 'light').

Credits: JAXA

The mission

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The infrared satellite, ASTRO-F, now called AKARI, was successfully launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on 21 February 2006. In a collaborative effort involving ESA and scientists across Europe, the spacecraft (renamed AKARI, meaning 'light') will make an unprecedented study of the sky in infrared light.

Credits: JAXA

ESA’s involvement

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The infrared satellite, AKARI, was successfully launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on 21 February 2006. In a collaborative effort involving ESA and scientists across Europe, the spacecraft (renamed Akari, meaning 'light') will make an unprecedented study of the sky in infrared light.

Credits: JAXA

Watch the launch

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Herschel overview ISO overview Observations: Seeing in infrared wavelengths