# Sakigake

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q1065268](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1065268)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakigake)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sakigake

## Summary
Sakigake is a Japanese space probe and artificial satellite of the Sun launched on January 7, 1985. As one of Japan's first deep-space missions, it pioneered interplanetary exploration beyond Earth's orbit.

## Key Facts
- Sakigake is an instance of both a space probe and an artificial satellite of the Sun.
- Launch date: January 7, 1985.
- Launch vehicle: M-3S2 rocket.
- Launch site: Uchinoura Space Center.
- COSPAR ID: 1985-001A.
- NSSDCA ID: 1985-001A.
- Aliases: MS-T5, Sakigake.
- Supported by NAIF ID: -46.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Sakigake launched?
A: Sakigake was launched on January 7, 1985, from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan.

### Q: What type of spacecraft is Sakigake?
A: Sakigake is classified as a space probe and an artificial satellite of the Sun, designed for deep-space exploration.

### Q: Which rocket was used for Sakigake's launch?
A: It was launched using the Japanese M-3S2 carrier rocket.

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Sakigake?
A: Its COSPAR ID and NSSDCA ID are both 1985-001A, with an NAIF ID of -46 and Freebase ID /m/021283.

## Why It Matters
Sakigake holds historical significance as Japan's first deep-space mission, marking a milestone in the nation's space exploration capabilities. It demonstrated Japan's ability to operate interplanetary spacecraft, paving the way for future missions like the Halley Comet observations. As an early example of heliocentric orbit technology, it contributed to advancements in deep-space navigation and solar system research, influencing the development of subsequent robotic explorers beyond Earth's immediate vicinity.

## Notable For
- Being one of Japan's initial forays into deep-space exploration.
- Utilizing the M-3S2 rocket, a specialized Japanese launch system.
- Operating as an artificial satellite of the Sun, distinct from Earth-orbiting satellites.
- Maintaining continuous documentation via multiple Wikipedia languages since its launch.

## Body
### Overview
Sakigake is a Japanese space probe that served as both an interplanetary explorer and an artificial satellite orbiting the Sun. It was developed by Japan and represents an early achievement in deep-space robotics.

### Launch and Mission
- Launch occurred on January 7, 1985.
- Deployed from the Uchinoura Space Center.
- Propelled by the M-3S2 rocket, Japan's dedicated carrier system for spacecraft.
- Classified under the space probe category for unmanned robotic space exploration beyond Earth.

### Identifiers and Classification
- COSPAR ID: 1985-001A
- NSSDCA ID: 1985-001A
- NAIF ID: -46
- Freebase ID: /m/021283
- SCN identifier: 15464
- Listed under "Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID": topic/Sakigake
- Included in "Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition)" with ID 402496

### Recognition and Documentation
- Maintains a presence in 10 Wikipedia languages (Bulgarian, German, English, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean).
- Associated with 21 sitelinks across knowledge bases.
- Commonly referred to by the aliases "MS-T5" and "Sakigake."
- Significant event formally recorded as a "rocket launch" on January 7, 1985, at Uchinoura Space Center.

## 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)