AKEBONO (EXOS-D)
JAXA/ISAS's AKEBONO (EXOS-D) was an auroral and magnetospheric observation mission launched on 1989-02-22 by Mu-3S-II-4. It studied auroral particle acceleration, the magnetosphere, plasmasphere, and radiation-belt dynamics through long-term observations that continued until operations ended on 2015-04-23.
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Identity
- Aliases
- AKEBONOEXOS-DAkebono MissionAuroral Observation Satellite
- Name
- AKEBONO (EXOS-D)
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- JAXA/ISAS's AKEBONO (EXOS-D) was an auroral and magnetospheric observation mission launched on 1989-02-22 by Mu-3S-II-4. It studied auroral particle acceleration, the magnetosphere, plasmasphere, and radiation-belt dynamics through long-term observations that continued until operations ended on 2015-04-23.
- Destination
- Highly elliptical Earth orbit at approximately 275 km perigee and 10,500 km apogee (75° inclination; 211-minute period)
- End Date
- 2015-04-23
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Operating for 26 years and two months—far beyond its one-year target—AKEBONO found that Earth’s magnetosphere controls auroral phenomena and recorded long-term changes in the Van Allen radiation belt. JAXA stated that AKEBONO’s observations and knowledge would be used to inform observation planning and data analysis for the ERG (Arase) geospace mission.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1989-02-22
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 22:29:32 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 27, 2026 at 09:01:47 UTC
- Image
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Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles