Japanese probe Suisei says hello to Halley’s Comet
On March 8, 1986, Japan’s Suisei says hello to Halley’s Comet
Halley’s Comet Exploration Satellite “SUISEI” (すいせい) observes Halley’s during its flypast.
Japanese Suisei and German engraving
part of Halley’s Comet 6 stamp set depicting the comet and various probes sent to observe it.
Stamps and images included:
US Ice satellite & dinosaurs, USSR Vega and Bayeaux tapestry,
European Space Agency Giotto and the Three Magi, USSR Astron and Apianis constellation,
and US space shuttle and Edmond Halley
Issued by Magyar Posta (Hungary) Feb. 14, 1986
Designer: Varga Pál
Although possible records of Halley’s Comet from its 467 B.C.E. apparition may be found in Greece and China, the first positive observations date to 240 B.C.E. in the Chinese chronicle “Records of the Grand Historian” or “Shiji.” Over the subsequent centuries, observations of what is now known to be Halley’s Comet are found in Babylonia, China, Japan, India, the Middle East, Europe, and even possibly on petroglyphs in North America. People in those societies often associated its appearance with dramatic political and social events, such as the defeat of Attila the Hun in 451 C.E. or the death of kings. 955 Years Ago: Halley’s Comet and the Battle of Hastings – NASA
The image in the Suisei stamp simply lists a “German engraving” with no specific time period. Halley’s has appeared over and over in artwork marking it’s appearances, including one of the most famous depictions woven into the Bayeaux Tapestry (1070-80 CE). You can see the comet passing in the top right corner.
Bayeaux Tapestry (1070-80 CE) showing the comet passing in 1066
Suisei was launched into space on the morning of August 19, 1985, from the Kagoshima Space Center (Uchinoura). The small cylinder-shaped probe weighed 140kg and was 1.4m (39.4 inches) in diameter and 70cm (27.5 inches) high. It traveled for 282 days, eventually passing 151,000 km (94,000 mi) near the comet. “After that, SUISEI continued observations of solar wind but, on February 22, 1991, the hydrazine fuel required for orbital change ran out. On August 20, 1992, the final earth swing-by was conducted, completing the mission” (SUISEI | Spacecraft | ISAS (jaxa.jp).
Suisei probe
Image courtesy https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/past/suisei.html
1st photograph of Halley’s taken 1910 Image courtesy: The Library of Congress
Halley’s orbit brings it close enough to be observed on earth every 74.4 to 79.3 years. The next time it passes by earth will be 2061.