Mission scientists of the Japan Aerospace Exploration (JAXA) announced Thursday a confirmation that efforts to restore communications of black hole detecting, X-ray satellite Hitomi have failed.

The multi million dollar satellite estimated at $365 million received odd, cryptic messages after re-emerging from a communication blackout shortly after its launch last February. Now, scientists reveal that these messages did not originate from Hitomi but from intercepted radio interference according to JAXA. 

Like Us on Facebook

Hitomi went spiralling out of control, away from its target orbital position, separating into pieces last month. Japanese scientists believe that human error was the major cause for this unfortunate mission failure. The satellite was launched in collaboration with NASA to study distant supermassive black holes and to collect data from deep space and to ultimately understand the origins of the cosmos. 

Shortly after a month of the launch of Hitomi, ground control and mission engineers suddenly lost contact with the ASTRO-H satellite as it was being maneuvered directly to an active galaxy core hosting a supermassive black hole.

JAXA scientists revealed in a statement that a possible cause for this untimely demise of the ASTRO-H, is that both of its solar array paddles were broken off from its bases which caused the satellite to hurtle out of control. This means that JAXA has now given up all efforts, finally abandoning Hitomi to further investigate this anomaly.

This investigation will involve reviewing every development stage of the satellite from its design to manufacture, including verifications and testing operations, to further understand this communications failure leading to the satellite's doom. To date, it is still a mystery to scientists why the solar paddles broke off, which led to the Hitomi's power supply being cut off, making it almost impossible to re-establish contact.

According to JAXA Space Science Research Center director, Saku Tsumeta, they feel very sorry about the loss of ASTRO-H and there was indeed human error involved. However, in this type of critical system, it also means that there is also a problem in the system as well.

Tsumeta also says that JAXA does not have enough funding to replace the lost satellite, where the space agency will have to delay this mission for another 12 years, also thanking NASA and apologizing to the public about the failure of Hitomi.