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Shinsei
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Shinsei, the first Japanese scientific satellite, which was active from 1971 to 1973. It observed solar radio waves, cosmic rays, and ionospheric plasma.
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Shinsei, the first Japanese scientific satellite, which was active from 1971 to 1973. It observed solar radio waves, cosmic rays, and ionospheric plasma.
Shinsei, the first Japanese scientific satellite, which was active from 1971 to 1973. It observed solar radio waves, cosmic rays, and ionospheric plasma.

Shinsei

Japanese satellite
Written by
John M. Logsdon
John M. Logsdon is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. He was a member of the NASA Advisory Council...
John M. Logsdon
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Shinsei, first Japanese scientific satellite, launched on Sept. 28, 1971. Shinsei observed solar radio emissions, cosmic rays, and plasmas in Earth’s ionosphere. The 66-kg (145-pound) satellite was launched under the auspices of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which was then part of the University of Tokyo. The launch vehicle was a solid-fueled M-4S rocket. Shinsei is the Japanese word for “new star.” The satellite ceased operations in 1973, but it still remained in orbit.

John M. Logsdon