# HITEN

> Japanese lunar orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q935149](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q935149)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiten_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hiten

## Summary
HITEN was a Japanese lunar orbiter, also known as MUSES-A. Operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the spacecraft was launched on January 24, 1990, to test and verify technologies for future lunar and planetary missions. The mission concluded with a planned impact on the Moon's surface in April 1993.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of:** Lunar orbiter
- **Country of Origin:** Japan
- **Operator:** Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
- **Launch Date:** January 24, 1990
- **Launch Vehicle:** M-3S2
- **Launch Site:** Uchinoura Space Center
- **Takeoff Mass:** 143 kg
- **COSPAR ID:** 1990-007A
- **End of Mission:** April 10, 1993 (lunar impact)

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Hiten spacecraft launched?
A: The Hiten spacecraft was launched on January 24, 1990, at 11:46 from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan.

### Q: Who built and operated the Hiten mission?
A: Hiten was manufactured and operated by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS).

### Q: What happened to the Hiten spacecraft?
A: The Hiten mission concluded on April 10, 1993, when the spacecraft executed a planned lunar impact at 18:03:25.

## Why It Matters
Hiten was a significant mission for Japan's space program, demonstrating the nation's capabilities in deep space exploration and complex orbital mechanics. As part of the MUSES (Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft) Program, its primary purpose was to test technologies for future missions, including trajectory control, aerobraking, and orbital insertion techniques. The spacecraft successfully performed multiple lunar flybys before becoming the first Japanese probe to enter orbit around the Moon. By achieving these milestones, Hiten provided valuable engineering data and operational experience, paving the way for subsequent Japanese lunar and planetary exploration efforts. The mission's successful execution of advanced maneuvers solidified Japan's position as a capable nation in space science and exploration.

## Notable For
- **Japan's First Lunar Orbiter:** Hiten was the first spacecraft from Japan to orbit the Moon, achieving this milestone on February 15, 1993.
- **Technology Demonstration:** The mission was part of the MUSES Program, designed specifically as an engineering testbed for technologies needed for future planetary missions.
- **Complex Trajectory:** Hiten executed multiple lunar swing-bys and maneuvers, including a planetary flyby of the Moon on March 18, 1990, at a distance of 16,472 km.
- **Controlled Impact:** The mission was intentionally concluded with a controlled impact onto the lunar surface on April 10, 1993.

## Body
### Mission and Operation
- **Official Name:** Hiten (飛天), also known as MUSES-A (Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft A).
- **Program:** Part of the MUSES Program.
- **Operator:** Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS).
- **Country of Origin:** Japan.

### Launch Details
- **Launch Date:** January 24, 1990
- **Launch Time:** 11:46
- **Launch Vehicle:** M-3S2 rocket
- **Launch Site:** Uchinoura Space Center

### Spacecraft Specifications
- **Takeoff Mass:** 143 kilograms
- **Power Consumed:** 110 watts
- **Aliases:** MUSES-A, Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft A, Celestial Maiden, Hagoromo, Hiten, MUSES, Хитен, Sonda hiten

### Orbital Characteristics
- **Apoapsis:** 51,130 km
- **Periapsis:** 11,330 km
- **Orbital Period:** 4.7 days
- **Orbital Inclination:** 34.7 degrees
- **Orbital Eccentricity:** 0.32

### Key Mission Events
- **January 24, 1990:** Launched from Uchinoura Space Center.
- **March 18, 1990:** Performed a planetary flyby of the Moon at a distance of 16,472 km.
- **February 15, 1993:** Entered into orbit around the Moon.
- **April 10, 1993:** The mission ended with a planned lunar impact at 18:03:25.

### Identifiers
- **SCN:** 20448
- **COSPAR ID:** 1990-007A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1990-007A

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-007A)
4. BabelNet