Tenma Satellite

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I think I posted this story before but for those that might have missed it.....
The JSA or Japanese Space Agency has launched many research satellites in cooperation with NASA. One such satellite was an X-Ray observation mission called "Tenma" (or Pegasus in English).

http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/tenma/tenma.html

As with most of their missions the satellite is given a working project name before it is launched, and it's given name is used once it is in orbit. Tenma's working project name was (wait for it ...) "Astro B" (it was the second satellite of the the 'Astro series'.) Now how about that ... they gave it the name of BOTH the Father and the Son!

I cannot believe this was a coincidence, SOMEONE at the JSA HAD to be an Astro fan!

PS. I could NOT find any mission patches for this satellite, but how much do you want to bet about who's image was on that satellite!

[Little Brown Fox]

I'm fairly certain this has been brought up before; or at least a story like it. That being said, it's still awesome.

[Prettywitchiusaka]

I'll say. I know they say that two is a coincidence, and three is a pattern, but I think you're right. It seems too coincidental that someone would name the satellite (both the working title, and the final one) would have Astro names.

Either way, it's still awesome!

[Robin]

One of my moms friends (Works for nasa) says the mission patch is classified (Which is odd for a x-ray satellite)