A high-energy astrophysics observatory called CALET was launched in space in order to be installed on the International Space Station, on the exposed terrace of the Japanese Experiment Module. The launch and installation have been streamed live by NASA TV.
The precious load was launched on the Earth's orbit by a Japanese rocket on Wednesday, August 19. Besides the high-energy observatory the spacecraft was also carrying emergency supplies and an unmanned cargo vessel bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the H-IIB rocket took off from the southern island of Tanegashima after the launch was postponed twice due to weather conditions. The rocket carried a 5.5-tonne cargo vessel called "kounotori" in Japanese, which contains supplies including clothing, water, food, and tools necessary for experiments to be done in space.
The mission will reach the International Space Station on August 24. Currently, a Japanese astronaut, Kimiya Yui, is on mission on the ISS. He has been tasked with using the robotic arms to catch the cargo vessel.
The rocket is also carrying parts for a water recycling system as "emergency materials" following the failure in June to launch a US Falcon 9 rocket, which exploded minutes after lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. In less than a year, the accident was the third involving Russian and US supply ships bound for the International Space Station.
In addition to spare parts, food, water, and clothing, the cargo container carries CALET, an astrophysical observatory designed to study the high-energy radiation in cosmos. When the cargo craft will reach the space station CALET will be installed by a robotic arm on the "exposed facility" of the Japanese Experiment Module.
In an effort to solve some cosmic mysteries, the high-energy observatory will begin recording arrivals of cosmic rays-high-energy protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei, as well as gamma rays. The main goal of CALET is to use high-energy electrons to find nearby cosmic ray sources in order to verify the scientific hypothesis of Brian Rauch, PhD, research assistant professor in physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. The secondary goal of the high-energy observatory will be to count rare ultra-heavy nuclei. Data will serve the research of the Washington University astrophysicists.
