Akari

JAXA Akari and SELENE are two important space missions launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that have contributed significantly to our understanding of the Universe. In this article, we will delve into the details of these two missions, including their launching dates, purpose, methodology, cost, and achievements.

JAXA Akari Mission

Launching Date:

The Akari mission was launched on February 21, 2006, from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima, Japan. It was launched onboard the M-V rocket, which is a Japanese-made solid-fuel rocket.

Purpose:

The Akari mission was designed to study the infrared universe. It was the first infrared observatory to carry out a comprehensive survey of the entire sky in the mid- to far-infrared regions. The mission aimed to provide new insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems.

Methodology:

The Akari spacecraft was equipped with a 68.5 cm telescope and two scientific instruments: the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) and the Infrared Camera (IRC). The FIS was used to survey the sky at far-infrared wavelengths, while the IRC was used to observe the sky in mid-infrared wavelengths. The spacecraft also had a pointing system that allowed it to scan the sky continuously.

Cost:

The cost of the Akari mission was approximately 13 billion yen ($120 million).

Achievements:

During its operational lifetime, which ended on November 24, 2011, the Akari mission produced several groundbreaking results. Here are some of its key achievements:

Comprehensive Survey: Akari conducted a comprehensive survey of the entire sky at mid- to far-infrared wavelengths. The mission detected more than 4,000 galaxies and several new planetary systems.

Galactic Structure: Akari revealed the structure of the Milky Way galaxy in detail, showing the distribution of interstellar dust and gas. The mission also identified several new star-forming regions.

Planetary Formation: Akari observed the formation of planetary systems in several star-forming regions. The mission detected several protoplanetary disks around young stars, providing new insights into the early stages of planetary formation.

Asteroid Belt: Akari discovered a new asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

JAXA SELENE Mission

Launching Date:

The SELENE mission was launched on September 14, 2007, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. It was launched onboard the H-IIA rocket, which is a Japanese-made liquid-fuel rocket.

Purpose:

The SELENE mission was designed to study the Moon in unprecedented detail. The mission aimed to provide new insights into the origin and evolution of the Moon, as well as the formation and evolution of the Solar System.

Methodology:

The SELENE spacecraft consisted of three separate components: the main orbiter, two small sub-satellites, and a lunar impactor. The main orbiter was equipped with several scientific instruments, including a terrain camera, a laser altimeter, and a gamma-ray spectrometer. The sub-satellites were used to study the Moon's gravity field and magnetic field, while the lunar impactor was used to study the structure and composition of the lunar surface.

Cost:

The cost of the SELENE mission was approximately 57 billion yen ($480 million).

Achievements:

The SELENE mission produced several groundbreaking results, some of which are listed below:

Lunar Topography: SELENE created a high-resolution map of the Moon's topography, which provided new insights into the Moon's geological history.

Lunar Interior: SELENE used its laser altimeter to measure the thickness of the Moon's crust and the structure of the Moon's interior. The mission also detected several subsurface structures, such as lava tubes and volcanic domes.

Water on the Moon: SELENE detected evidence of water molecules on the Moon's surface, indicating that the Moon may have a significant amount of water ice in its polar regions.

Origin of the Moon: SELENE provided new insights into the origin of the Moon, supporting the theory that the Moon was formed from a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized body.

Conclusion:

The JAXA Akari and SELENE missions have been significant contributors to our understanding of the Universe. Akari provided new insights into the infrared universe, while SELENE provided unprecedented detail about the Moon's surface and interior. Both missions have produced groundbreaking results that have helped us better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, planetary systems, and the Solar System. Despite the high cost of these missions, their achievements have been invaluable to the scientific community and our understanding of the Universe.