September 9, 2005

Reentry Of Solar X-ray Observatory "Yohkoh" To Earth's Atmosphere

The Solar X-ray Observatory "Yohkoh" (SOLAR-A) is soon to re-enter the earth's atmosphere as it has completed its on-orbit life. It is analyzed that the frame of the Yohkoh will be burned and vanish at re-entry; therefore it will not fall to earth.

The Yohkoh was launched aboard M-3S-II Launch Vehicle Flight No. 6 on August 30, 1991, from the Uchinoura Space Center by the former Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the then Ministry of Education (currently Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA) .

Because of the change in atmosphere density due to the Sun, it is impossible to predict the exact time and location of the re-entry. However, it is currently expected to happen around September 12, 2005 (Japan Standard Time, JST).

We will provide you with information about the re-entry as soon as it is confirmed.

For your information, Yohkoh's orbit at 2:57 a.m. on September 8, 2005 (JST), is as follows. Apogee altitude 247.7 Km, Perigee altitude 242.4 Km, Inclination 31.3 degrees, Period 89.3 minutes.

Copyright 2005 by Space Daily, Distributed United Press International

Citation: Reentry Of Solar X-ray Observatory "Yohkoh" To Earth's Atmosphere (2005, September 9) retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2005-09-reentry-solar-x-ray-observatory-yohkoh.html
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