Astro-F was the second infrared astronomy mission of Japan's ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science). Astro-F (see Astro- series) uses a 68.5-centimeter-diameter telescope, served by two infrared detectors and cooled to –267°C using liquid helium, to carry out a highly sensitive survey of the infrared sky from 1.7 microns (near-infrared) to 180 microns (far-infrared); its observations will allow astronomers to investigate further the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. The spacecraft has a mass of 960 kilograms.

Astro-F, formerly known as IRIS (Infrared Imaging Surveyor), was under development since 1997. After many delays, it was finally launched into a sun-synchronous, 745-kilometer-high, polar orbit by an M-5 rocket from Uchinoura Space Center on 21 February 2006.