# HALCA

> Japanese space observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q1617995](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1617995)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HALCA)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/halca

## Summary
HALCA is a Japanese space observatory and radio telescope, also known by aliases such as Haruka and VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP). Launched on February 12, 1997, it was designed for observing distant space objects. It was manufactured by NEC and operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.

## Key Facts
*   HALCA is a Japanese space observatory and radio telescope.
*   It was launched on February 12, 1997, at 04:50 UTC.
*   The observatory was manufactured by NEC.
*   It was operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.
*   HALCA was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center using an M-V rocket.
*   Its aliases include Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy, VSOP, VLBI Space Observatory Programme, MUSES-B, and Haruka.
*   It has a COSPAR ID of 1997-005A and an NSSDCA ID of 1997-005A.

## FAQs
### Q: What is HALCA?
A: HALCA is a Japanese space observatory and radio telescope. Its full name is Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy, and it is also known as Haruka or the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP).

### Q: When was HALCA launched and by whom?
A: HALCA was launched on February 12, 1997, at 04:50 UTC. It was manufactured by NEC and operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.

### Q: What was HALCA's purpose?
A: As a space observatory and radio telescope, HALCA's purpose was to observe distant space objects. Its mission involved Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) from space.

### Q: Where was HALCA launched from?
A: HALCA was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. The launch vehicle used was a Japanese M-V rocket.

### Q: What does "HALCA" stand for?
A: HALCA stands for "Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy." It is also known by its mission name, VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP), and its Japanese name, Haruka.

## Why It Matters
HALCA was significant as a Japanese space observatory and radio telescope, representing an important advancement in space-based astronomical research. Its primary function was to observe distant space objects, contributing to our understanding of the universe. As part of the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP), HALCA enabled Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations from space, which allowed for higher resolution imaging of cosmic radio sources than ground-based telescopes alone could achieve. This capability was crucial for studying phenomena such as active galactic nuclei, quasars, and the dynamics of star formation in unprecedented detail. Operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, HALCA demonstrated Japan's capabilities in developing and operating sophisticated space-based astronomical instruments.

## Notable For
*   Being a Japanese space observatory specifically designed as a radio telescope.
*   Its role in the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP), enabling Very Long Baseline Interferometry from space.
*   Being manufactured by the Japanese technology corporation NEC.
*   Its launch aboard a Japanese M-V solid-fuel rocket from the Uchinoura Space Center.

## Body

### Overview
HALCA, an acronym for Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy, is a Japanese space observatory. It is also known by its mission names, VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) and MUSES-B, and its Japanese name, Haruka. It is classified as both a space telescope and a radio telescope.

### Mission and Purpose
The primary purpose of HALCA was to observe distant space objects. As a radio telescope operating in outer space, it was integral to the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) program, which combines signals from multiple telescopes to achieve very high angular resolution.

### Launch and Operations
HALCA was launched on February 12, 1997, at 04:50 UTC. The launch took place from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. The launch vehicle used was a Japanese M-V rocket, specifically the M-V-1 variant. The observatory was operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, a Japanese national research institute established in 1955.

### Manufacturing
The manufacturing of HALCA was undertaken by NEC, a Japanese technology corporation founded in 1899. NEC is known for its work in information technology, electronics, and the video game industry.

### Identifiers
HALCA has several official identifiers:
*   **SCN:** 24720
*   **NAIF ID:** -58
*   **VIAF ID:** 130459824
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1997-005A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1997-005A
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/057rc6

### Related Entities
*   **Space telescope:** HALCA is an instance of a space telescope, an instrument in outer space for observing distant space objects.
*   **NEC:** The manufacturer of HALCA.
*   **M-V:** The Japanese solid-fuel rocket used as HALCA's launch vehicle.
*   **Institute of Space and Astronautical Science:** The operator of HALCA.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)