The information on this page was published in the past, thus it may be different from the current status.
To check the date of issuance, please refer to the following URL for the list of interviews, or for the list of special articles.

Contact and FAQ

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

X-rays – the same type of radiation that’s used in medicine – are high-energy beams of light. Their ability to penetrate matter as dense as the human body allows us to observe celestial objects hidden by clouds of thick gas. X-rays are common in space, but their short wavelength makes them invisible to the naked eye. They are emitted from high-energy regions such as supernova explosions, black holes and clouds of hot gas in galaxies. X-ray astronomy is the study of their mysteries. Starting with the launch of HAKUCHO in 1979, Japan has launched five X-ray astronomy satellites, leading the world in the field. Japan’s sixth X-ray astronomy satellite, ASTRO-H, scheduled for launch in 2014, will carry instruments with the highest resolution to date, helping us search for an explanation of the structure and evolution of the universe.

Related Link: ASTRO-H Project

Japanese

© 2003 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency