ASTRO-C, renamed Ginga (Japanese for 'galaxy'), was an X-ray astronomy satellite launched from the Kagoshima Space Center on 5 February 1987 using M-3SII launch vehicle. The primary instrument for observations was the Large Area Counter (LAC). Ginga was the third Japanese X-ray astronomy mission, following Hakucho and Tenma (also Hinotori satellite - which preceded Ginga - had X-ray sensors, but it can be seen as a heliophysics rather than X-ray astronomy mission). Ginga reentered the Earth's atmosphere on 1 November 1991. Instruments Large Area Proportional Counter (LAC 1.5-37 keV) All-Sky Monitor (ASM 1-20 keV) Gamma-ray Burst Detector (GBD 1.5-500 keV) Highlights Discovery of transient Black Hole Candidates and study of their spectral evolution. Discovery of weak transients in the galactic ridge. Detection of cyclotron features in 3 X-ray pulsars: 4U1538-522, V0332+53, and Cep X-4. Evidence for emission and absorption Fe feature in Seyfert probing reprocessing by cold matter. Discovery of intense 6-7 keV iron line emission from the Galactic Center region. External links NASA/GSFC information of Ginga (ex Astro-C) Space telescopes X-ray telescopes Satellites of Japan Satellites formerly orbiting Earth 1987 in spaceflight Spacecraft launched in 1987