Page 29 - Shimadzu Journal vol.2 Issue1

Latest News

Shimadzu’s Diffraction Grating Goes into Space

It was launched with the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of
Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) by the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle .

The Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of changes in the plasma environment by the interaction of the
Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A), named “HISAKI” later, solar wind.
is the world's first space telescope for remote observation of In November 2007, Shimadzu was asked to design a
planets such as Jupiter, Mars, and Venus from the artificial spectrometer for EUV spectroscopy and to develop and
satellite orbit around the earth. It was successfully launched manufacture the diffraction grating for it. In the spring of
by the Epsilon-1 rocket on September 14 and injected into 2011, we succeeded in achieving the requested diffraction
the planned orbit with the completion of solar array paddle efficiency in the entire range of wavelength and provided a
deployment, and sun acquisition. toroidal concave CVD-SiC diffraction grating of the size of
Our diffraction grading is used in the spectrometer loaded 85mm × 85mm × 12mm with the project team.
onto “HISAKI”. It has started to play an important role in Visit the JAXA web site at
observing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light from the satellite,
and studying the atmospheric outflow and the energy http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/sprint_a/index_e.html

Shimadzu’s diffraction grating (the blue circular portion) attached to The spectrometer is equipped in the box on the right side of the
a device to evaluate its performance cylinder cut off slantingly at the top (the image is from JAXA’s HP).

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