HALCA (MUSES-B)
JAXA/ISAS's HALCA (MUSES-B), the VSOP space radio astronomy mission, used a deployable 8-m class antenna with ground radio telescopes for space very-long-baseline interferometry and demonstrated precision communications and attitude-control technologies. Launched on 1997-02-12, it operated until its final radio observations in 2003 and was retired on 2005-11-30.
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Identity
- Aliases
- HALCAMUSES-BHighly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and AstronomyVSOP Space Observatory
- Name
- HALCA (MUSES-B)
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- JAXA/ISAS's HALCA (MUSES-B), the VSOP space radio astronomy mission, used a deployable 8-m class antenna with ground radio telescopes for space very-long-baseline interferometry and demonstrated precision communications and attitude-control technologies. Launched on 1997-02-12, it operated until its final radio observations in 2003 and was retired on 2005-11-30.
- Destination
- Highly elliptical Earth orbit at approximately 560 km perigee and 21,000 km apogee (31° inclination)
- End Date
- 2005-11-30
- Outcome
- HALCA established an international space-VLBI observing system with ground radio telescopes, resolving fine structure in active-galactic-nucleus jets on baselines longer than those available on Earth. More than 700 observations were made through the VSOP programme. Science concentrated on the 1.6 and 5 GHz bands because the planned 22 GHz receiver had very low sensitivity after launch. Final spacecraft operations ended on November 30, 2005, after 8 years and 9 months; the remaining propellant was vented before radio shutdown.
- Programs
- -
- Start Date
- 1997-02-12
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 22:25:02 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:52:53 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
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- Space Stations
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- Vehicles