Japan Puts X-Ray Astronomy Satellite into Orbit to Study Black Holes

KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN - FEB. 17: Japan put into orbit Wednesday an X-ray astronomy satellite that could shed light on the mysteries of black holes, carried on an H-2A rocket launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. The two-stage carrier vehicle lifted off at 5:45 p.m. and released the "Astro-H" satellite about 15 minutes later to put it into orbit about 580 kilometers above the Earth's surface, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The satellite is a space observatory equipped with four X-ray telescopes and two gamma-ray detectors. Scientists hope to observe distant galaxies with it to study the mysteries surrounding the evolution of the universe. Data from the satellite could be of particular use in the study of black holes, which are difficult to observe directly because they emit no light. The launch comes on the heels of direct observation by scientists in the United States of gravitational waves coming from a pair of merging black holes, or ripples in the fabric of space-time that Albert Einstein predicted a century ago. Combining information gleaned from X-rays with information about black holes' gravitational waves could greatly advance understanding of the mysterious bodies. Various bodies in space emit X-rays, which are measured along an energy spectrum. Detecting the energy of X-rays using X-ray telescopes can provide clues about the objects that emitted them. In the case of black holes, X-rays emitted from gas jets pulled in by their gravity may provide clues about the holes' activity. The 29th successful launch out of 30 brings the H-2A's launch success rate to 97 percent. The rocket was first launched in August 2001 and experienced a failed launch in November 2003. The rocket also carried two small satellites from Nagoya University and one from the Kyushu Institute of Technology.