Institute of Space and Astronautical ScienceLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

Akebono

Name: Mu-3S-II | Akebono
Start: 1989-02-21T23:30:00Z
Location: Mu Center, Uchinoura Space Center, Japan

Mu-3S-II

Launched Tue, Feb 21 · 11:30 PM UTC1989-02-21 23:30 UTCMu Center, Uchinoura Space Center, Japan

Reached orbit

Follow Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in the app Institute of Space and Astronautical Science updates

Success

Reached Elliptical Orbit

Worldwide

16th

orbital launch attempt in 1989

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

1st

launch this year

Mu Center

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

747 d 17 h

since the pad's previous launch

Mission

Japanese upper atmosphere research satellite

Launch Provider

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Government · Japan

ISAS is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes which played a major role in Japan's space development.

Launches

Successful

75%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesLambda

All Institute of Space and Astronautical Science launches Website Wikipedia

Mu-3S-II

Vehicle history

Height

27.8m

Diameter

1.4m

To low Earth orbit

800kg

Liftoff thrust

1,930kN

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Institute of Space and Astronautical ScienceLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

Akebono

Mu-3S-II

Launched Tue, Feb 21 · 11:30 PM UTC1989-02-21 23:30 UTCMu Center, Uchinoura Space Center, Japan

Reached orbit

Follow Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in the app Institute of Space and Astronautical Science updates

Success

Reached Elliptical Orbit

Worldwide

16th

orbital launch attempt in 1989

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

1st

launch this year

Mu Center

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

747 d 17 h

since the pad's previous launch

Mission

Japanese upper atmosphere research satellite

Launch Provider

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Government · Japan

ISAS is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes which played a major role in Japan's space development.

Launches

Successful

75%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesLambda

All Institute of Space and Astronautical Science launches Website Wikipedia

Mu-3S-II

Vehicle history

Height

27.8m

Diameter

1.4m

To low Earth orbit

800kg

Liftoff thrust

1,930kN

Next From Uchinoura Space Center

Uchinoura Space Center schedule

NET2026

JV-LOTUSat-1JAXA · Epsilon S · Mu Center, Uchinoura Space Center, JapanSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedNET 2026 Nov—NET

SOLAR-CJAXA · Epsilon S · Mu Center, Uchinoura Space Center, JapanSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedNET November 2028

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Akebono

Mission

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Mu-3S-II

Never Miss a Launch.

Akebono

Mission

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Mu-3S-II

Next From Uchinoura Space Center

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Uchinoura Space Center