Japanese Telescope Will Give Canadians A New Eye on the Most Cataclysmic Events in the Universe

LONGUEUIL, QC, Feb 4, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - ASTRO-H, Japan's flagship astronomy mission, is slated for launch on Friday, February 12, 2016, at 3:45 a.m. (EST) / 12:45 a.m. (PST) from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

The space observatory will be fitted with a unique laser measurement system, the Canadian ASTRO-H Metrology System (CAMS), provided by the Canadian Space Agency. In return for CAMS, Canadians will be part of the mission's science team and have privileged access to the space observatory to study black holes, supernova explosions, neutron stars, and how galaxies like our own Milky Way were formed. This precision optics technology was built by Neptec Design Group Ltd.

Astronaut and astrophysicist David Saint-Jacques; Professor Luigi Gallo, Canada's lead scientist from Saint Mary's University; and space industry experts from Neptec are available for interviews. Please contact the Canadian Space Agency to schedule interviews.

Associated Links

Livestream of ASTRO-H's launch
Canada's participation in the ASTRO-H mission
Video footage of CAMS undergoing testing

Website: http://asc-csa.gc.ca
Twitter: @csa_asc
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SOURCE Canadian Space Agency

Canadian Space Agency, Media Relations Office, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]