How did Suzaku get started?
Back in the early 1990s, scientists at ISAS, Japan, were planning
to build a new X-ray astronomy satellite, to be launched in about
2000. They had their own ideas and plans for the instruments to
put on this new satellite. But they also knew they could do more
if they collaborated with American or European colleagues.
In the meantime, scientists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
had been working on a new type of instrument: the XRS.
That was to be part of a mission called AXAF, but unfortunately
the XRS part of the mission got cancelled. So they looked for
a new way to launch the XRS.
So, in 1993, ISAS and NASA decided to join forces - the XRS
became the main instrument on ASTRO-E.
After nearly 7 years of hard work, ASTRO-E was ready for launch
in February 2000. Unfortunately, the launch was unsuccessful
- a problem on the first stage of the rocket meant that it didn't
put ASTRO-E in orbit. For more on the mission history, see:
X-ray astronomers all over the world wanted ISAS and NASA
to try again, and these agencies agreed. The new project
ws naturally called Astro-E2 - until the successful
launch. Now that it's achieved orbit, the satellite is now
called Suzaku.
