Akebono (known as EXOS-D before launch) is a satellite to study aurora and Earth's magnetosphere environment. It was developed by Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and launched by M-3SII rocket on February 21, 1989.

Akebono
NamesEXOS-D
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorISAS · University of Tokyo
COSPAR ID1989-016A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.19822
Mission durationFinal: 26 years, 2 months, 1 day
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass294 kg (648 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date21 February 1989, 23:30 (1989-02-21UTC23:30) UTC
RocketM-3SII, mission M-3SII-1
Launch siteUchinoura Space Center, Japan
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated23 April 2015
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.36552
Perigee altitude300 km (190 mi)
Apogee altitude8,000 km (5,000 mi)
Inclination75°
Epoch20 February 1989, 19:00 UTC
 

After 26 years of successful observation, operation was terminated on April 23, 2015, due to the degradation of solar cells and the decay of orbit.[1]

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Notes edit

  1. ^ 磁気圏観測衛星「あけぼの」の運用終了について [On Termination of Operation of the Magnetosphere Observation Satellite Akebono]. JAXA. April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.

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