Suisei
A Japanese probe, launched by ISAS (Institute
of Space and Astronautical Science), that rendezvoused with Halley's
Comet on Mar. 8, 1986. It was identical to Sakigake
apart from its payload: a CCD (charge-coupled device) ultraviolet imaging
system and a solar wind instrument. The main
goal of the mission was to take ultraviolet (UV) pictures of the hydrogen
corona for about 30 days before and after
Halley's descending crossing of the ecliptic plane. Measurements of the
solar wind were taken over a much longer period. Suisei began UV observations
in November 1985, producing up to six images per day. The spacecraft encountered
Halley on the sunward side at 151,000 km during Mar. 8, 1986, suffering
only two dust impacts. During 1987 ISAS decided to guide Suisei to a November
1998 encounter with Comet Giacobini-Zinner, but due to depletion of the
hydrazine, this, as well as plans to fly within several million kilometers
of Comet Tempel-Tuttle in February 1998 were cancelled. Suisei, which means
"comet," was known before launch as Planet-A.
| launch date |
Aug. 18, 1985 |
| launch vehicle |
M-3S |
| launch site |
Kagoshima |
| orbit around Sun |
1.012 × 0.672 AU × 0.89° |
| mass |
141 kg |
Related entry
• comet
and asteroid missions
Related categories
• JAPANESE
SPACECRAFT
• SATELLITES
AND SPACE PROBES
• JAPAN
IN SPACE
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia
of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia
of History
BACK TO TOP
|
