Hitomi

This Hitomi illustration shows the space telescope in shades of blue. The main body of the spacecraft is a long octagon with a cylindrical object on the front end. The cylinder has several smaller cylinders extending from it. On the back end of the satellite extends a long pole that ends in an octagonal panel. Solar panels extend to either side of the main body.
An illustration of JAXA’s Hitomi spacecraft. The colors depicted in this illustration are for artistic purposes only.
NASA
December 20, 2022
CreditNASA
Historical DateDecember 20, 2022
Language
  • english

An illustration of JAXA's Hitomi spacecraft. The colors depicted in this illustration are for artistic purposes only.

NASA partnered with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on Hitomi, an X-ray observatory designed to detect radiation ranging from X-rays to gamma rays. Hitomi’s goal was to study cosmic elements from the evolution of the universe to the distribution of dark matter within galaxy clusters.

Launched: February 17, 2016
Operations ceased: March 26, 2016