# Nozomi

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q849074](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q849074)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nozomi_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nozomi-q849074

## Summary
Nozomi is a Japanese space probe and artificial satellite of the Sun designed for the exploration of Mars. Launched in 1998 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), it represented Japan's first interplanetary mission to another planet.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Space probe and artificial satellite of the Sun (heliocentric orbit).
- **Operator:** Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
- **Manufacturer:** NEC (Japanese technology corporation).
- **Launch Date:** July 3, 1998.
- **Launch Vehicle:** M-V (Japanese solid-fuel rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Uchinoura Space Center, Japan.
- **Destination:** Mars.
- **Status:** Decommissioned (Service retirement: December 31, 2003).
- **Alternative Names:** PLANET B, PLANET-B, プラネットB.
- **Technical Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1998-041A; NSSDCA ID 1998-041A; NAIF ID -178; SCN 25383.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary objective of the Nozomi mission?
A: Nozomi was a robotic space probe sent to explore Mars. It was designed to study the Martian environment while operating as an artificial satellite of the Sun.

### Q: Who was responsible for building and launching Nozomi?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by the Japanese corporation NEC and operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center using a Japanese M-V solid-fuel rocket.

### Q: Is the Nozomi spacecraft still active?
A: No, Nozomi is currently decommissioned. Its service retirement date was recorded as December 31, 2003.

## Why It Matters
Nozomi holds a significant place in aerospace history as Japan's first mission to Mars. By attempting to reach the Red Planet, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) joined a limited group of space agencies capable of interplanetary exploration. The mission utilized domestic Japanese technology, including the M-V solid-fuel rocket and manufacturing by NEC, highlighting the country's independent launch and spacecraft development capabilities. Although the probe is now decommissioned, it remains a foundational project for Japanese deep-space robotics and heliocentric satellite operations.

## Notable For
- **First Japanese Mars Mission:** Nozomi was the first space probe from Japan destined for Mars.
- **Solid-Fuel Propulsion:** The mission was launched using the M-V, a specialized Japanese solid-fuel rocket.
- **Heliocentric Orbit:** Beyond its planetary goals, the probe is classified as an artificial satellite of the Sun.
- **International Recognition:** The mission is documented across multiple global databases with identifiers such as COSPAR 1998-041A and Freebase ID /m/0275pw.

## Body

### Mission Development and Launch
Nozomi, originally designated PLANET-B, was developed as an unmanned robotic spacecraft for interplanetary exploration. The probe was manufactured by NEC, a Japanese technology corporation with a history dating back to 1899. The mission was officially launched on July 3, 1998, from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. The launch utilized the M-V rocket, a Japanese solid-fuel vehicle designed for satellite and probe deployment.

### Technical Specifications and Identification
As a space probe, Nozomi was designed to explore outer space rather than orbiting the Earth. It is categorized as an artificial satellite of the Sun due to its heliocentric orbit. The spacecraft is tracked under several scientific cataloging systems:
- **COSPAR/NSSDCA ID:** 1998-041A
- **NAIF ID:** -178
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 25383
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "25383"]

### Operational Status and Retirement
The mission was operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). After several years in operation, the spacecraft reached its service retirement on December 31, 2003. It is currently listed as decommissioned. Despite its retirement, the probe remains a subject of academic record, appearing in the Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) and the Encyclopædia Britannica.

## References

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