Japan’s 23rd scientific satellite Suzaku (ASTRO-EII) is operating smoothly. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the Suzaku at 12:30 p.m. (Japan Standard Time, JST) on July 10, 2005, from the Uchinoura Space Center.
Between around 5:07 and 5:12 a.m. on July 21 (JST), the final perigee up maneuver (to increase the perigee altitude) was carried out and successfully completed. Through this maneuver, the satellite is now in a circular orbit at an altitude of approximately 570 km, which is its scheduled orbit.
After the initial operations, such as tests for onboard equipment, are carried out, observations are scheduled to start in mid August.
Suzaku English Home Page;
http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/sat/astronomy/astro_e2/index_e.html