JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

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February 19, 2006 (JST)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce that the launch time of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (ASTRO-F) aboard the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 8 (M-V-8) has been determined as follows based on the collision avoidance analysis with the manned space system(s)* which is performed one day prior to the launch day. (The date and time are Japan Standard Time.)

* A collision avoidance analysis is an analysis carried out prior to a rocket launch to avoid a collision with manned space systems, such as the International Space Station, which are in orbit. In principal, a launch vehicle and any of its separated objects should not collide with manned space systems from the launch until its completion of the first round around the earth.

** The launch time has been determined based on the best time to inject the satellite into its orbit as the whole original launch time range (6:00 to 7:00 a.m.) was found to be free from any possibility of collision with manned space systems after the collision avoidance analysis.

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