AKARI (ASTRO-F): Flight performance and preliminary results Original Research Article

ASTRO-F, which is the first Japanese satellite mission dedicated to the infrared wavelength region, was successfully launched on February 21, 2006 (UT), and was named “AKARI”. The telescope has a 69 cm aperture, and is cooled to 6 K with super-fluid helium and mechanical coolers. AKARI is designed for the most advanced all-sky survey in the mid- and far-infrared wavelength region since the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). We performed test observations using the performance verification period after the launch, and demonstrated that the instruments are mostly working well. The survey is on-going with six photometric bands including the first all-sky point source survey at 140 and 160 μm. In addition to the all-sky survey, deep imaging and spectroscopic surveys with pointed observations are being carried out in 13 wavelength bands from 2 to 160 μm for various scientific objectives.