ABRIXAS
German X-ray telescope lost to battery overcharge three days after launch.
ABRIXAS (A Broadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey) was a space-based German X-ray telescope launched on 28 April 1999 aboard a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from Kapustin Yar, Russia. Its mission was cut short when its battery was accidentally overcharged and destroyed three days after launch, leading to the abandonment of the $20 million project. The satellite decayed from orbit on 31 October 2017.
Quick Facts
- Mission Type
- X-ray astronomy
- Operator
- DLR
- Satcat
- 25721
- Mission Duration
- 3 days (mission failure)
- Launch Mass
- 550.0 kg
- Launch Rocket
- Kosmos-3M
- Launch Site
- Kapustin Yar 107
- Last Contact
- 1 May 1999
- Decay Date
- 31 October 2017
- Orbit Epoch
- 28 April 1999, 04:30:00 UTC
- Orbit Reference
- Geocentric
- Orbit Regime
- Low Earth Orbit
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
ABRIXAS was launched on 28 April 1999 from Kapustin Yar, Russia, using a Kosmos-3M rocket. It entered an Earth orbit with a periapsis of 549.0 km, an apoapsis of 598.0 km, an inclination of 48.5°, and an eccentricity of 0.00352, giving it a period of 96 minutes. The telescope's battery was accidentally overcharged and destroyed three days after the mission started. Attempts to communicate with the satellite while its solar panels were illuminated by sunlight failed, and the $20 million project was abandoned. ABRIXAS decayed from orbit on 31 October 2017.
Reader's Guide
ABRIXAS was a pioneering German X-ray telescope intended to conduct a broadband imaging all-sky survey. Although its mission ended prematurely due to a battery failure three days after launch, its design directly influenced the eROSITA telescope, which was launched on 13 July 2019 aboard the Spektr-RG space observatory and deployed at the second Lagrange point (L2). The loss of ABRIXAS represented a significant setback for German X-ray astronomy, but its legacy continued through eROSITA, which built upon its technical foundation. The project's $20 million cost and rapid failure highlight the risks inherent in space missions, particularly those involving battery systems. ABRIXAS's orbital decay on 31 October 2017 marked the end of its physical presence, but its design concepts remain relevant in contemporary X-ray observatories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ABRIXAS?
ABRIXAS (A Broadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey) was a German X-ray telescope designed to map the entire sky in X-ray wavelengths. It was intended to be a dedicated all-sky survey instrument operating from orbit.
What went wrong with ABRIXAS?
Just three days after launch, the satellite's battery was accidentally overcharged during a routine operation, which destroyed the spacecraft. The error was fatal to the mission, and the roughly $20 million project was subsequently abandoned.
When and where was ABRIXAS launched?
The telescope lifted off on 28 April 1999 from the Kapustin Yar launch site in Russia, riding on a Kosmos-3M rocket. It was inserted into an orbit inclined at 48.5 degrees.
How long did ABRIXAS survive in orbit?
The satellite was effectively dead after only three days in space due to the battery overcharge. Its physical structure, however, remained in a decaying orbit until it re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 31 October 2017.
Why is ABRIXAS remembered in spaceflight history?
It stands as a stark example of how a single ground-support mistake can erase an entire multi-million-dollar mission before it ever gathers meaningful science. No X-ray survey data were ever returned, making it one of the most costly 'near-misses' in German space history.
More in Space telescopes 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced