Tenma
Japanese space observatory (1983-1988)
Tenma, known as ASTRO-B before launch, was a Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. It was launched on 20 February 1983, using a M-3S rocket on the M-3S-3 mission. It was the second X-ray observatory successfully operated by Japan after Hakucho (CORSA-B), and it had a superior temporal and spectral sensitivity compared to its predecessor.
Battery failure in July 1984 caused the operation to become limited, and continuing problems lead to the termination of X-ray observation on 11 November 1985, however it remained in sporadic contact until 17 December 1988. It reentered the atmosphere on 19 January 1989.
01Highlights
- Discovery of the iron helium-like emission from the galactic ridge.
- Iron line discovery and/or study in many LMXRB, HMXRB and AGN.
- Discovery of an absorption line at 4 keV in the X1636-536 Burst spectra.
Sources and credits
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Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Astro-b tenma.gif by Unknown author, Public domain
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