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Akebono (satellite)

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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

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.

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]

See also

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Notes

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  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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