The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has lost communication with its Hitomi (ASTRO-H) x-ray astronomical satellite, which was launched last month.
Expected to begin operations last Saturday, the satellite was launched aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built H-IIA F30 rocket to study x-rays from galaxy clusters, black holes and dark matter.
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JAXA is yet to ascertain the state of health of the satellite and the cause of communication failure.
The US Joint Space Operations Center found five objects orbiting near the spacecraft around the time the communication was lost, while keeping a track of space debris.
These objects are believed to be pieces of either a smaller satellite or asteroid pebbles.
The Japanese space agency noted that it received short signal from the satellite, and is now working for recovery.
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By GlobalDataIn a press release, JAXA stated: "Under this circumstance, JAXA set up emergency headquarters, headed by the president, for recovery and investigation."
ASTRO-H has a mission life of nearly three years.
The satellite is equipped with a high-resolution spectrometer, which helps in measuring wavelengths of x-ray.
Image: ASTRO-H was launched to study x-rays from galaxy clusters, black holes and dark matter. Photo: courtesy of JAXA.
