Hinotori was a Japanese satellite, launched by ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science), principally to investigate X-rays from the Sun. It carried high-resolution soft (longer wavelength) X-ray spectrometers and hard (shorter wavelength) X-ray instruments that obtained the first images of solar flares at energies above 25 keV, and also observed celestial X-ray bursts. Hinotori, which means "phoenix," was known before launch as Astro-A (see also Astro- series).