Japan loses, and regains, contact with satellite
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029700
BBC : Hitomi, the x-ray astronomy satellite launched on 17 February by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been having problems. On 26 March five pieces of debris were observed floating around the satellite, and ground control in Japan lost contact with it. The satellite also appeared to have changed course and may be tumbling through space. However, on 28 March, Hitomi once again started sending beacon signals. The reestablishment of contact with the satellite indicates that it may not be critically damaged and can be fixed. Before contact was lost, Hitomi had already started sending the highest resolution x-ray spectra ever. If Hitomi proves to be unrecoverable, its loss will be significant.
