# Himawari 3 AKM

> apogee kick motor used by the Himawari 3 satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111499446](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111499446)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/himawari-3-akm

## Summary
Himawari 3 AKM is the apogee kick motor used by the Himawari 3 weather satellite. It is an instance of the Star 37 class solid rocket motor manufactured by Thiokol and was launched on 1984-08-02 from the Osaki Launch Complex aboard an N-II launch vehicle.

## Key Facts
- The Himawari 3 AKM is an apogee kick motor used by the Himawari 3 satellite.  
- Instance of the Star 37 class, an American solid rocket motor and stage developed by Thiokol.  
- Manufacturer: Thiokol (country of origin: United States).  
- Launch date and time: 1984-08-02 at 20:30 (UTC as recorded).  
- Launch start point: Osaki Launch Complex.  
- Launch vehicle: N-II (qualification N-13(F)), a Japanese launch vehicle.  
- COSPAR ID: 1984-040E.  
- SCN (catalog): 22266.  
- Satellite target/orbit: geosynchronous orbit.  
- Current classification: listed as a space derelict.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Himawari 3 AKM?
A: The Himawari 3 AKM is the apogee kick motor used to perform apogee maneuvers for the Himawari 3 satellite. It is an instance of the Star 37 class solid rocket motor manufactured by Thiokol.

### Q: When and where was the Himawari 3 AKM launched?
A: It was launched on 1984-08-02 at 20:30 from the Osaki Launch Complex aboard an N-II launch vehicle (flight N-13(F)).

### Q: Who manufactured the Himawari 3 AKM?
A: The motor was manufactured by Thiokol, an American company; the motor is classed as originating in the United States.

### Q: Which satellite did this AKM serve and what orbit was targeted?
A: It served the Himawari 3 satellite, which is associated with geosynchronous orbit.

### Q: What is the current status of the Himawari 3 AKM?
A: It is classified as a space derelict.

## Why It Matters
The Himawari 3 AKM played a specific and necessary role in the deployment of the Himawari 3 satellite by providing the apogee maneuver capability needed to reach and maintain its geosynchronous operating orbit. As an instance of the Star 37 class manufactured by Thiokol, the motor reflects the use of American solid-propellant apogee kick technology on a Japanese satellite program; the launch was conducted from Japan’s Osaki Launch Complex on an N-II launch vehicle. The event on 1984-08-02 illustrates international integration in satellite deployment: U.S.-built propulsion hardware, a Japanese launcher, and a geosynchronous meteorological satellite working together. The motor’s classification as a space derelict also highlights the long-term orbital legacy of upper stages and kick motors after mission completion. For studies of satellite mission architectures, spaceflight history, and orbital debris, the Himawari 3 AKM is a concise example of cross-national hardware use and of the persistent presence of spent propulsion stages in geosynchronous-associated orbits.

## Notable For
- Being an apogee kick motor instance used on the Himawari 3 meteorological satellite.  
- Classed as a Star 37, the American solid-rocket motor developed by Thiokol.  
- Launched on 1984-08-02 from Japan’s Osaki Launch Complex aboard an N-II (N-13(F)) vehicle.  
- Identified by COSPAR ID 1984-040E and catalog number 22266.  
- Currently recorded as a space derelict.

## Body
### Overview
- Name: Himawari 3 AKM.  
- Role: Apogee kick motor used by the Himawari 3 satellite.  
- Wikidata description: apogee kick motor used by the Himawari 3 satellite.  
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "22266"].

### Identification and classification
- SCN (catalog number): 22266.  
- COSPAR ID: 1984-040E.  
- Instance of: Star 37 class and space derelict.  
- Aliases: Himawari 3 apogee kick motor; GMS 3 AKM; GMS 3 apogee kick motor.

### Manufacturer and origin
- Manufacturer: Thiokol.  
- Country of origin: United States.  
- Related class detail: Star 37 — American solid rocket motor and stage developed by Thiokol.

### Launch and mission event
- Launch date and time: 1984-08-02, 20:30.  
- Start point: Osaki Launch Complex.  
- Launch vehicle: N-II (qualified as N-13(F)), a Japanese launch vehicle.  
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch at Osaki Launch Complex associated with Himawari 3 on 1984-08-02.

### Orbit and mission role
- Satellite of / target orbit: geosynchronous orbit.  
- Function: provided apogee kick capability for the Himawari 3 satellite’s transfer/placement to geosynchronous orbit (as the motor used by the satellite).

### Current status
- Classified as a space derelict in records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report