Akari (formerly known as ASTRO-F)is the first Japanese satellite dedicated to infrared astronomy; it was launched on 21 February 2006 by a Japanese M-V rocket. Akari is equipped with a 68.5 cm cooled telescope, together with two focal-plane instruments: the Infrared Camera (IRC) and the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS). Observations started on 8 May 2006 and Akari finished its ‘cool observations’ (those depending on the mission’s supply of liquid helium) on 26 August 2007 by which time the liquid helium had ‘boiled off’.
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