NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Haruka

Launch Time
Wed Feb 12, 1997 04:50 UTC

First launch of Mu-V.

Rocket

Mu-V/M-24
ISAS
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 3,780 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,800 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 30.7 m

Mission Details

Haruka

HALCA (Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communication and Astronomy), a.k.a. VSOP (Very Large Baseline Interferometry Space Observatory Programme) or Muses-B, is the first astronomical satellite dedicated to Very-Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). It was launched on its maiden flight by ISAS's M-5 [KM-V1] launch vehicle from Kagoshima Space Center on 12 February 1997.

As suggested by its development name MUSES-B, the satellite is the second in the series of ISAS's Mu Space Engineering Satellites. Since the satellite's successful deployment, in particular the main reflector mesh, and the testing of new engineering technologies incorporated within it, such as the two-way communications link between the satellite and tracking stations, HALCA has been used for space VLBI observations.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 830.0 kg
Elliptical

Location

Mu Pad, Uchinoura Space Center, Japan

Stats

1997

6th orbital launch attempt

Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science

24th mission
1st mission of 1997
21st successful mission
1st consecutive successful mission

Mu-V

1st mission
1st mission of 1997
1st successful mission