Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
宇宙航空研究開発機構

Owner	Japan
Established	October 1, 2003 (Successor agency to NASDA 1969-2003, ISAS 1981–2003 and NAL 1955–2003)
Headquarters	Chōfu, Tokyo
Pri. spaceport	Tanegashima Space Center
Administrator	Keiji Tachikawa
Budget	¥225 (€1.4) billion (FY2005)[1]
Website	www.jaxa.jp

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (宇宙航空研究開発機構, Uchū-Kōkū-Kenkyū-Kaihatsu-Kikō^?), or JAXA, is Japan's national aerospace agency. JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003 through the merger of three previously independent organizations. JAXA is responsible for research, development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is fundamentally involved in many missions such as asteroid exploration and a possible human mission to the moon.^[2] Image File history File links JAXAlogo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... The Establishment is a slang term (chiefly in British and Commonwealth English) for a traditional conservative ruling class and its institutions. ... This article has been nominated as a possible Japanese Collaboration of the Week. ... The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japans aerospace agency. ... The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ), or JAXA, is Japans national aerospace agency. ... Map of Tokyo with Chōfu highlighted Ajinomoto Stadium The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Jindai Botanical Garden in Chōfu is a popular public park. ... A spaceport is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with airport for aircraft. ... The Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) is one of Japans space development facilities. ... Look up budget in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A fiscal year (or financial year or accounting reference date) is a 12-month period used for calculating annual (yearly) financial reports in businesses and other organizations. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Look up aerospace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as assets. ... For other uses, see Satellite (disambiguation). ... Earth orbit is an orbit around the planet Earth. ... For other uses, see Asteroid (disambiguation). ... This article is about Earths moon. ...

History

JAXA Kibo, the largest module for the ISS

On October 1, 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA: Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (or ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Image File history File links Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space Station source: http://aerospacescholars. ... Image File history File links Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space Station source: http://aerospacescholars. ... The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japans aerospace agency. ... ISS JAXA JEM module The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibō (希望, Hope) is the Japanese contribution to the International Space Station and is produced by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and is the largest module for the ISS. It consists of 4 components: The Pressurized Module (PM) is the core component. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japans aerospace agency. ...

Before the merger, ISAS was responsible for space and planetary research, while NAL was focused on aviation research. NASDA, which was founded on October 1, 1969, had developed rockets, satellites, and also built the Japanese Experiment Module, which is slated to be launched and added to the International Space Station during Space Shuttle assembly flights in 2008.^[3] The old NASDA headquarters were located at the current site of the Tanegashima Space Center, on Tanegashima Island, 115 kilometers south of Kyūshū. NASDA also trained Japanese astronauts, who flew with the US Space Shuttles. Layers of Atmosphere - not to scale (NOAA)[1] Outer space, sometimes simply called space, refers to the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... This article is about vehicles powered by rocket engines. ... ISS JAXA JEM module The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibō (希望, Hope) is the Japanese contribution to the International Space Station and is produced by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and is the largest module for the ISS. It consists of 4 components: The Pressurized Module (PM) is the core component. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... This article is about the space vehicle. ... The following is the assembly sequence of the major components of the International Space Station. ... The Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) is one of Japans space development facilities. ... Yoshinobu Launch Complex (© JAXA) in Tanegashima Tanegashima (Japanese: 種子島) is an island lying to the south of Kyushu, south Japan, and is part of the Kagoshima Prefecture. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the space vehicle. ...

Rockets

JAXA uses the H-IIA (H "two" A) rocket from the former NASDA body to launch engineering test satellites, weather satellites, etc. For science missions like X-ray astronomy, JAXA has been using the M-V solid-fueled rocket from the former ISAS. Additionally, JAXA is developing together with IHI, United Launch Alliance, and Galaxy Express Corporation (GALEX), the GX rocket. The GX will be the first rocket world wide to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the propellant. For experiments in the upper atmosphere JAXA uses the SS-520, S-520, and S-310 sounding rockets. The H-IIA is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the purpose of launching satellites into geostationary orbit. ... ROSAT image of X-ray fluorescence of, and occultation of the X-ray background by, the Moon. ... M-V rocket with the ASTRO-E satellite (Febr. ... Rocket fuel is a propellant that reacts with an oxidizing agent to produce thrust in a rocket. ... Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. ... United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. ... The GX launch vehicle is a rocket currently under development by the Galaxy Express Corporation, a joint-venture between Lockheed Martin (LM), Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and several other Japanese companies. ... Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been processed to remove either valuable components e. ... A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. ...

Success so far

Prior to the establishment of JAXA, ISAS had been most successful in its space program in the field of X-ray astronomy during the 1980s and 90s. Another successful area for Japan has been Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) with the HALCA mission. Additional success was achieved with solar observation and research of the magnetosphere, among other areas. Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is a type of astronomical interferometry used in radio astronomy, in which the data received at each antenna in the array is paired with timing information, usually from a local atomic clock, and then stored for later analysis on magnetic tape or hard disk. ... HALCA (MUSES-B) The HALCA (Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy), also known as MUSES-B before launch, is an 8 meter diameter radio telescope satellite which was used for Very Long Baseline Interferometry. ... A magnetosphere is the region around an astronomical object in which phenomena are dominated or organized by its magnetic field. ...

NASDA was mostly active in the field of communication satellite technology. However, since the satellite market of Japan is completely open, the first time a Japanese company won a contract for a civilian communication satellite was only in 2005. Another prime focus of the NASDA body is Earth climate observation.

Launch development and missions

Rocket History

Japan launched its first satellite Ohsumi in 1970 with the L-4S rocket by ISAS. Unlike solid fueled rockets, Japan chose a much slower path with liquid fueled rocket technology. In the beginning NASDA used American models in licence. The first model developed in Japan was the H-II introduced in 1994. However at the end of the 90s with two H-II launch failures, Japanese rocket technology came under criticism. Osumi can stand for: Osumi Province, a province of Japan. ... Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese rockets. ... The H-II (H2) rocket was a Japanese satellite launch system, which flew seven times between 1994 and 1999, with five successes. ...

Early H-IIA missions

Japan's first space mission under JAXA, an H-IIA rocket launch on November 29, 2003, ended in failure due to stress problems. After a 15 month hiatus, JAXA performed a successful launch of an H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, placing a satellite into orbit on February 26, 2005. is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yoshinobu Launch Complex (© JAXA) in Tanegashima Tanegashima (Japanese: 種子島) is an island lying to the south of Kyushu, south Japan, and is part of the Kagoshima Prefecture. ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lunar and Interplanetary Missions

Japan's first missions beyond Earth orbit were the 1985 Halley comet observation satellites Suisei and Sakigake. To prepare for future mission, ISAS tested Earth swing by orbits with the Hiten mission in 1990. Currently interplanetary missions remain at the ISAS group under the JAXA umbrella. However for FY 2008 JAXA is planning to set up an independent working group within the organization. New head for this group will be Hayabusa project manager Kawaguchi. [1] Active Mission: Hayabusa, SELENE, Under Development: Planet-C, BepiColombo, Hayabusa 2? Suisei (mythology) Suisei probe, a Japanese space probe to Comet Halley Yokosuka D4Y dive bomber This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Spacecraft Sakigake Sakigake (MS-T5), was Japans first interplanetary spacecraft and was lauched January 7, 1985 from Kagoshima Space Center. ... Hiten spacecraft The Hiten spacecraft (known before launch as Muses-A), built by the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science of Japan, was launched on January 24, 1990. ... For other uses, see Hayabusa (disambiguation). ... This article is about the lunar spacecraft. ... PLANET-C, also known as Venus Climate Orbiter (VCO), is a planned Japanese unmanned spacecraft to explore Venus. ... BepiColombo is a joint Cornerstone mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet Mercury. ... Hayabusa 2 is the follow on mission to the Hayabusa mission as proposed by JAXA. Hayabusa is a engineering test mission to test technology for sample return from an asteriod. ...

Small Body Exploration: Hayabusa mission

On May 9, 2003, Hayabusa (meaning, Peregrine falcon), was launched from an M-V rocket. The goal of this mission is to collect samples from a small near-Earth asteroid named 25143 Itokawa. The craft was scheduled to rendezvous in November of 2005, and return to Earth with samples from the asteroid by July of 2007. It was confirmed that the spacecraft successfully landed on the asteroid on November 20, 2005, after some initial confusion regarding the incoming data. On November 26, 2005, Hayabusa succeeded in making a soft contact, but whether it gathered the samples or not is unknown. Hayabusa is slated to return to earth in 2010. is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Hayabusa (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tunstall, 1771 Global range (shaded green, dark dots on islands) The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), occasionally known in North America as the Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 380–530 millimetres (15–21 in) long. ... M-V rocket with the ASTRO-E satellite (Febr. ... The Apollo Asteroid 6489 golevka Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are asteroids whose orbits are close to Earths orbit. ... Image:25143 Itokawa 051101-2 ISAS-JAXA.jpg Hayabusa image of 25143 Itokawa. ... A space rendezvous between two spacecraft, often between a spacecraft and a space station, is an orbital maneuver where the two arrive at the same orbit, make the orbital velocities the same, and bring them together (an approach maneuver, taxiing maneuver); it may or may not include docking. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

For details see Hayabusa, Hayabusa 2 For other uses, see Hayabusa (disambiguation). ... Hayabusa 2 is the follow on mission to the Hayabusa mission as proposed by JAXA. Hayabusa is a engineering test mission to test technology for sample return from an asteriod. ...

Solar sail research

Main article: solar sail

On August 9, 2004, ISAS successfully deployed two prototype solar sails from a sounding rocket. A clover type sail was deployed at 122 km altitude and a fan type sail was deployed at 169 km altitude. Both sails used 7.5 micrometer thick film. Solar sails (also called light sails or photon sails, especially when they use light sources other than the Sun) are a proposed form of spacecraft propulsion using large membrane mirrors. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer, symbol µm) is an SI unit of length equal to one millionth of a metre, or about a tenth of the diameter of a droplet of mist or fog. ...

ISAS tested a solar sail again as a sub payload to the Astro-F (Akari) mission on February 22, 2006. However the solar sail did not deploy fully. ISAS tested a solar sail again as a sub payload of the Solar-B launch at September 23 2006, but contact with the probe was lost. The goal is to have a solar sail mission to Jupiter after 2010. is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lunar Explorations

After Hiten in 1990, ISAS planned a lunar exploration mission LUNAR-A but after delays due to technical problem, the project was terminated in January 2007. Seismometer penetrator design for Lunar-A may be reused in future mission. Hiten spacecraft The Hiten spacecraft (known before launch as Muses-A), built by the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science of Japan, was launched on January 24, 1990. ... LUNAR-A LUNAR-A is a Japanese spacecraft that was scheduled to be launched in August 2004. ...

On September 14, 2007, JAXA succeeded in launching lunar orbit explorer "Kaguya", also known as SELENE (costing 55 billion yen including launch vehicle), the largest such mission since the Apollo program^{[unreliable source?]}, on an H-2A rocket. Its mission is to gather data on the moon's origin and evolution. It entered into a lunar orbit on October 4.^{[4] [5]} is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Lunar may refer to: an adjective that means having to do with or pertaining to the Moon, or to moons in general. ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... See also explorations, sea explorers, astronaut, conquistador, travelogue, the History of Science and Technology and Biography. ... This article is about the lunar spacecraft. ... This article is about the lunar spacecraft. ... Japanese 10 yen coin (obverse) showing Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Yen is the currency used in Japan. ... This article is about the series of human spaceflight missions. ... The H-IIA (H2A) is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the purpose of launching satellites into geostationary orbit. ... This article is about vehicles powered by rocket engines. ... This article is about Earths moon. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Astronomy Program

The first Japanese astronomy mission was x-ray satellite Hakucho (Corsa-B), which was launched in 1979. Later ISAS moved into solar observation, radio astronomy through Space VLBI and infrared astronomy. Active Mission: Suzaku, Akari, Hinode Under Development: ASTRO-G The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japans aerospace agency. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Infrared astronomy

Japan's first infrared astronomy mission was the 15 cm IRTS telescope which was part of the SFU multipurpose satellite in 1995. IRTS scanned during its one month lifetime around 7% of the sky before SFU got brought back to Earth by the Space Shuttle. During the 1990s JAXA also gave ground support for the ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) infrared mission. This article is about the European Space Agency. ... The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)is a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). ...

The next step for JAXA was the Akari spacecraft, with the pre-launch designation ASTRO-F. This satellite was launched on 21 February 2006. Its mission is infrared astronomy with a 68 cm telescope. This is the first all sky survey since the first infrared mission IRAS in 1983. (A 3.6 kg nanosatellite named CUTE-1.7 was also released from the same launch vehicle.) [2] Artists conception of ASTRO-F ASTRO-F (or Akari) is an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. ... Artists conception of ASTRO-F ASTRO-F (or Akari) is an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Astronomy (disambiguation). ... Miniaturized satellites are recent artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, new classifications are used to categorieze these satellites. ... CUTE-1. ...

JAXA is also doing further R&D for increasing the performance of its mechanical coolers for its future infrared mission SPICA. This would enable a warm launch without liquid helium. SPICA has the same size as the ESA Herschel Space Observatory mission, but is planned with a temperature of just 4.5 K to be much colder. The launch is planned for the year 2015, however the mission is not yet fully funded. Also ESA and NASA might contribute an instrument each. [3] This article is about the European Space Agency. ... The Herschel Space Observatory is a mission of the European Space Agency. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... This article is about the American space agency. ...

For details see Akari, IRTS. Artists conception of ASTRO-F ASTRO-F (or Akari) is an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. ...

X-ray astronomy

Starting from 1979 Japan achieved for nearly 20 years continuous observation with its Hakucho, Tenma, Ginga and Asca x-ray observation satellites. However in the year 2000 the launch of Japan's fifth x-ray observation satellite Astro-E failed. Than on July 10, 2005, JAXA was finally able to launch a new X-ray astronomy mission named ASTRO-E II (Suzaku). This launch was important for JAXA, because in the five years since the launch failure of the original ASTRO-E satellite, Japan was without an x-ray telescope. Three instruments were included in this satellite: an X-ray spectrometer (XRS), an X-ray imaging spectrometer (XIS), and a hard X-ray detector (HXD). However, the XRS was rendered inoperable due to a malfunction which caused the satellite to lose its supply of liquid helium.
The next planned x-ray mission is the MAXI all-sky X-ray scanner. It will continuously monitors astronomical X-ray objects over a broad energy band (0.5 to 30 keV). MAXI will be installed on the Japanese external module of the ISS. [4] Astro-E (NASA) Astro-E2 (NASA) ASTRO-E and ASTRO-EII (or Astro-E2) are Japanese X-ray astronomy satellites built primarily by JAXA. In 2000 the Astro-E launch failed (with the satellite falling into the ocean), so a replacement called Astro-EII was launched on July 10, 2005. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ROSAT image of X-ray fluorescence of, and occultation of the X-ray background by, the Moon. ... Astro-E (NASA) Astro-E2 (NASA) ASTRO-E and ASTRO-EII (or Astro-E2) are Japanese X-ray astronomy satellites built primarily by JAXA. In 2000 the Astro-E launch failed (with the satellite falling into the ocean), so a replacement called Astro-EII was launched on July 10, 2005. ... ROSAT image of X-ray fluorescence of, and occultation of the X-ray background by, the Moon. ... X-ray spectroscopy is a gathering name for several spectroscopic techniques for determining the electronic structure of materials by using x-ray excitation. ...

For details see ASTRO-E II (Suzaku). Astro-E (NASA) Astro-E2 (NASA) ASTRO-E and ASTRO-EII (or Astro-E2) are Japanese X-ray astronomy satellites built primarily by JAXA. In 2000 the Astro-E launch failed (with the satellite falling into the ocean), so a replacement called Astro-EII was launched on July 10, 2005. ...

Solar astronomy

Japan's solar astronomy started in the early 80s with the launch of the ASTRO-A mission. The Hinode (Solar-B) spacecraft, the follow-on to the Japan/US/UK Yohkoh (Solar-A) spacecraft, was launched on 23 September 2006. [5] [6] SOLAR-B Hinode (ひので, Sunrise in Japanese), formerly known as Solar-B, is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Solar mission with United States and United Kingdom collaboration. ... Yohkoh (Sunbeam in Japanese), also known as SOLAR-A, was a Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science Solar mission with United States and United Kingdom collaboration. ...

For details see Hinode SOLAR-B Hinode (ひので, Sunrise in Japanese), formerly known as Solar-B, is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Solar mission with United States and United Kingdom collaboration. ...

Technology Tests

One of the primary duties of the former NASDA body was the testing of new space technologies, mostly in the field of communication. The first test satellite was ETS-I,launched in 1975. However during the 1990s NASDA was hit by bad luck with the problems surrounding the ETS-VI and COMETS missions. Nevertheless testing of communication technologies remains as one of the Jaxas key duties in cooperation with NICT. Active Mission: ETS-VIII, OICETS, Index Under Development: WINDS, QZSS-1 JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18 2006. ... OICETS (other name Kirari) is an experimental satellite by JAXA to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means. ...

ETS-VIII

On October 14 Jaxa launched the LDREX-2 on the European Ariane 5 to test the deployment mechanism for the antenna of the ETS-VIII. JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18 2006. ...

ETS-VIII was launched on December 18 2006. The purpose of ETS-VIII is to test communication equipment with two very large antennas and an atomic clock test. On December 26th both anntennas were successfully deployed. JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18 2006. ...

For details see ETS-VIII JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18 2006. ...

OICETS and INDEX

On August 24, 2005, JAXA launched the experimental satellites OICETS and INDEX with the Dnepr rocket. OICETS mission is to test optical links with the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite ARTEMIS, which is around 40,000 km away from OICETS. The experiment was successful on December 9, when the link could be established. In March 2006 Jaxa could establish with OICETS the worldwide first optical links between a LEO satellite and a ground station first in Japan and in June 2006 with a mobile station in Germany. is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... OICETS (other name Kirari) is an experimental satellite by JAXA to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means. ... The Dnepr rocket (Ukrainian: ; Russian: ) is a space launch vehicle named after the Dnieper River. ... ESA redirects here. ...

For details see OICETS OICETS (other name Kirari) is an experimental satellite by JAXA to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means. ...

INDEX is a small 70 kg satellite for testing various equipment and for a small aurora observation mission. The satellite is currently in the extended mission phase. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake Aurora Borealis as seen over Canada at 11,000m (36,000 feet) Red and green Aurora in Fairbanks, Alaska Aurora Borealis redirects here. ...

For details see INDEX

Earth Observation Programme

Japan's first Earth observation satellites were MOS-1a and MOS-1b launched in 1987 and 1990. During the 1990s and the new millennium this programme came under heavy fire, because both Adeos (Midori) and Adeos 2 (Midori 2) satellites failed after just 10 months in orbit.
Active Mission: ALOS Under Development: GOSAT, GCOM-W

ALOS

In January 2006, JAXA successfully launched the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS/Daichi). Communication between ALOS and the ground station in Japan will be done through the Kodama Data Relay Satellite, which was launched during 2002. This project is under intense pressure due to the shorter than expected life time of the ADEOS II (Midori) Earth Observation Mission.
For details see Advanced Land Observation Satellite Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS), also called Daichi, is a 4-ton Japanese satellite. ... Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS), also called Daichi, is a 4-ton Japanese satellite. ...

Environmental Observation

Next funded earth observation mission is the GCOM earth observation programme as a successor to ADEOS II (Midori). To reduce the risk and for a longer observation time the mission will be split into smaller satellites. Altogether GCOM will be a series of six satellites. First launch, GCOM-W is scheduled for 2010 with the H-2A. GCOM is a series of JAXA Earth Observation Missions as a successor to the ill-fated ADEOS 2 satellite and to the Aqua Mission. ...

Other satellites

For weather observation Japan launched on February 2005 the Multi-Functional Transport Satellite 1R (MTSAT-1R). The success of this launch was critical for Japan, since the original MTSAT-1 couldn't be put into orbit because of a launch failure with the H-2 rocket in 1999. Since then Japan relied for weather forecasting on an old satellite which was already beyond his useful life term and on American systems. On February 18, 2006, JAXA successfully launched the MTSAT-2 aboard a H-IIA rocket. MTSAT-2 is the backup to the MTSAT-1R. The MTSAT-2 uses the DS-2000 satellite bus developed by Mitsubishi Electric. The DS-2000 is also used for the DRTS Kodama, ETS-VIII and the Superbird 7 communication satellite, making it the first commercial success for Japan. MTSAT are a series of weather and aviation control satellites. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As a secondary mission both the MTSAT-1R and MTSAT-2 help to direct air traffic.

Other JAXA satellites currently in use

• Exos-D (Akebono) Aurora Observation, since 1989.
• GEOTAIL magnetosphere observation satellite (since 1992)
• DRTS (Kodama) Data Relay Satellite, since 2002. (Projected Life Span is 7 years)

On going joint missions with NASA are the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the Aqua Earth Observation Satellite. Akebono (known as EXOS-D before launch) is a satellite to study aurora and Earths magnetosphere environment. ... GEOTAIL is a satellite observing magnetosphere of Earth. ... Artist conception of the TRMM satellite. ... Aqua (EOS PM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the precipitation, evaporation, and cycling of water. ...

Finished Missions

• Micro Lab Sat 1, Small engineering mission, launch 2002. (retired 27 September 2006)
• HALCA, Space VLBI 1997-2005 (retired)
• Nozomi, Mars Mission 1998-2003 (failed)
• MDS-1, Technology Demonstration 2002-2003 (retired)
• ADEOS 2, (Midori 2) Earth Observation 2002-2003 (lost)

is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... HALCA (MUSES-B) The HALCA (Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy), also known as MUSES-B before launch, is an 8 meter diameter radio telescope satellite which was used for Very Long Baseline Interferometry. ... Nozomi at Mars Nozomi (のぞみ) (Japanese for Hope and known before launch as Planet-B) was planned as a Mars-orbiting aeronomy probe. ... Adjectives: Martian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... Mission Demonstration Satellite 1 Tsubusa (MDS-1) was a Japanese technology test mission. ...

Future missions

As JAXA shifted away from international efforts beginning in 2005, plans are developing for independent space missions, such as a proposed manned mission to the moon. This article is about Earths moon. ...

2007

In fiscal year 2007, JAXA plans to launch the long delayed WINDS communication satellite whose mission is to experiment faster internet connections.

2008 and beyond

JAXA plans to field its new H-IIB rocket in 2008. H-IIB CG The H-IIB is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the main purpose of launching the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) towards the International Space Station. ...

The satellite GOSAT (Greenhouse Gas Observing SATellite) is to be launched to help scientists determine and monitor the density distribution of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The satellite is being jointly developed by JAXA and Japan's Ministry of the Environment. JAXA is building the satellite while the Ministry is in charge of the data that will be collected. Since the number of ground-based carbon dioxide observatories cannot monitor enough of the world's atmosphere and are distributed unevenly throughout the globe, the GOSAT may be able to gather more accurate data and fill in the gaps on the globe where there are no observatories on the ground. Sensors for methane and other greenhouse gasses are also being considered for the satellite, although the plans are not yet finalized. The satellite weighs approximately 1650 kg and is expected to have a life span of 5 years. GOSAT will be launched together with SDS-1. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... Air redirects here. ... The Ministry of the Environment (環境省; Kankyō-shō) of Japan was formed in 2001 from the 1971-established Environmental Agency. ... Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH4. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ...

Another project is the Global Precipitation Measurement/Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (GPM/DPR) which is a joint development with NASA. This mission is the successor to the highly successful TRMM mission. JAXA will develop the radar and provide the launch vehicle. Other countries/agencies like China, India, ESA etc. will provide the subsatellites. The aim of this mission is to measure global rainfall. However because of NASA budget limitations this project was pushed back to 2010.

In the year 2009 JAXA plans to launch the first satellite of the Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a subsystem of the global positioning system (GPS). Two others are expected to follow later. If successful, one satellite will be in a zenith position over Japan full time. The QZSS mission is the last scheduled major independent mission for JAXA, as no major civilian projects were funded after that for now. The only exception is the IGS programme which will be continued beyond 2008. However it seems Japan is pressing forward now with the GCOM earth observation satellites as successors to the ADEOS missions. First launch is planned for 2010. In 2009 Japan also plans to launch a new version of the IGS with an improved resolution of 60 cm. The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), is a proposed three-satellite regional time transfer system and enhancement for GPS covering Japan. ...

Funded missions after 2008

• GOSAT greenhouse gas observation, 2008
• SDS-1, small demonstration satellite project, 2008
• SmartSat-1, small communication test and sun corona observation, launch: 2009
• Quasi Zenith Satellite System, 2009 or later
• GCOM-W, Climate Observation satellite, launch: Feb, 2011
• PLANET-C, probe to Venus, launch: May, 2010
• ASTRO-G (VSOP-2) successor to the Halca mission, launch: Feb, 2012 (late FY 2011)
• GPM, successor to the TRMM joint NASA mission, launch: 2010-2013
• BepiColombo, joint ESA mission to Mercury, launch: 2013
• XEUS joint X-Ray telescope with ESA, launch after 2015.
• Sohla-1,Sohla-2 Small Demonstration Satellites

For the 2012 ESA EarthCare mission, JAXA will provide the radar system on the satellite. JAXA is also providing the Light Particle Telescope(LPT) for the 2008 Jason 2 satellite by the French CNES. Small Demonstration Satellite SDS is a JAXA programme to develop and demonstrate technology for and through small satellites. ... The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), is a proposed three-satellite regional time transfer system and enhancement for GPS covering Japan. ... GCOM is a series of JAXA Earth Observation Missions as a successor to the ill-fated ADEOS 2 satellite and to the Aqua Mission. ... PLANET-C, also known as Venus Climate Orbiter (VCO), is a planned Japanese unmanned spacecraft to explore Venus. ... Adjectives: Venusian or (rarely) Cytherean Atmosphere Surface pressure: 9. ... ASTRO-G (also known as VSOP-2) is a planned radio telescope satellite under development by JAXA. It is expected to be launched in fiscal year 2011 into elliptic orbit around Earth (apogee height 25,000 km, perigee height 1,000 km). ... GPM can mean: Gallons per minute, used for a tankless water heater to indicate how much water a heater can raise by a certain temperature. ... Artist conception of the TRMM satellite. ... BepiColombo is a joint Cornerstone mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet Mercury. ... This article is about the planet. ... XEUS is the X-ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy space observatory that is being developed by the European Space Agency as a successor to the successful XMM-Newton X-ray satellite telescope. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... Sohla-1 and Sohla-2 are two 50kg small demonstration satellites in development by Japan. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... This article is about the space agency. ...

New orientation of JAXA

Developing a space science mission like ASTRO-E can take up to 7 years and longer. The problem is, for gaining knowledge in astronomy it is necessary to study cosmic "special events." However because of the long development period of bigger space science mission, there can be long bleak periods in observation, missing opportunities. To prevent this JAXA is planning to use more small scale missions starting from 2010, too. For launching these smaller missions JAXA is also planning to develop a new solid fueled rocket to replace the M-V.

Proposals for future missions

• ALOS 2, earth observation
• NeXT, a new X-ray astronomy mission
• SPICA, a 3,5 meter infrared telescope to be placed at L2
• Selene-2, a moon landing mission
• A solar sail mission to Jupiter
• JASMINE, infrared telescope for measuring the universe
• DIOS, small scale x-ray observation
• Hayabusa 2, for launch in 2010-2011 for target 1999JU3
• Hayabusa Mark 2

For other meanings, see Next. ... Spica (α Vir / α Virginis / Alpha Virginis) is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Selene-2 is a proposed Japanese moon lander as a successor to the 2007 SELENE (Kaguya) moon orbiter. ... Dios Dios was a band from Argentina that started to play in 1992, their name comes from the Spanish word for God. They finally released an album in 2001 with 19 songs. ... Hayabusa 2 is the follow on mission to the Hayabusa mission as proposed by JAXA. Hayabusa is a engineering test mission to test technology for sample return from an asteriod. ...

Human Space Program

Japan has not yet developed its own manned spacecraft. The first Japanese person to be sent into space was cosmonaut Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist sponsored by TBS, who flew on the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than 7 days in space in the Mir Space station, in what the Soviets called their first commercial spaceflight which allowed them to earn $14 million. U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit. ... Toyohiro Akiyama (秋山豊寛 Akiyama Toyohiro) (born July 22, 1942) is a Japanese TV journalist and cosmonaut. ... Image:Tokyo Broadcasting System(年末瑞穂第一小学校) in Akasaka . ... Soviet redirects here. ... Crew Launched: Viktor Afanasyev (1) Musa Manarov (2) Toyohiro Akiyama (1), Reporter-Japan Landed: Viktor Afanasyev (1) Musa Manarov (2) Helen Sharman (1), U.K. Mission Parameters Mass: 7150 kg Perigee: 367 km Apogee: 400 km Inclination: 51. ... For other uses, see Mir (disambiguation). ...

The first professional Japanese astronaut of the NASDA was Mamoru Mohri in 1992 who flew his first space mission aboard the STS-47 mission. External link NASA Biography Categories: Stub | 1948 births | Japanese astronauts ... // Crew Robert L. Gibson (4), Commander Curtis L. Brown, Jr. ...

Under a new plan, JAXA has set a goal of constructing a manned lunar base in 2030. Astronauts would be sent to the Moon by around 2020 so that they will start construction of the base to be completed by 2030.^[6] An artists rendering of a lunar base. ...

Supersonic aircraft development

Besides the H-IIA and M-5 rockets, JAXA is also developing technology for a next-generation supersonic transport that could become the commercial replacement for the Concorde. The design goal of the project is to develop a jet that can carry 300 passengers at Mach 2. A subscale model of the jet underwent aerodynamic testing in September and October of 2005 in Australia. [7] The economic success of such a project is still unclear, and as a consequence the project has been met with limited interest from Japanese aerospace companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries so far. A United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in transonic flight. ... For other uses, see Concorde (disambiguation). ... An F/A-18 Hornet breaking the sound barrier. ...

Research centers and offices

JAXA has research centers in many locations in Japan, and some offices overseas. Its headquarters are in Chōfu, Tokyo. It also has Map of Tokyo with Chōfu highlighted Ajinomoto Stadium The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Jindai Botanical Garden in Chōfu is a popular public park. ...

• Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), Tokyo
• Earth Observation Center (EOC) in Hatayama
• Noshiro Testing Center (NTC) - Established in 1962. It carries out development and testing of rocket engines.
• Sanriku Balloon Center (SBC) - Balloons have been launched from this site since 1971.
• Kakuda Space Propulsion Center (KSPC) - Leads the development of rocket engines. Works mainly with development of liquid fuel engines.
• Sagamihara Campus (ISAS) - Development of experimental equipment for rockets and satellites. Also administrative buildings.
• Tanegashima Space Center
• Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Tsukuba. This is the center of Japan's space network. It is involved in research and development of satellites and rockets, and tracking and controlling of satellites. It develops experimental equipment for the Japanese Experiment Module ("Kibo"). Training of astronauts also takes place here.
• Uchinoura Space Center

For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... The Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) is one of Japans space development facilities. ... Tsukuba (Japanese: つくば市; -shi; from Han character 筑波) is a planned city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. ... M-V rocket at the Uchinoura Space Center (Febr. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ...

External links

• JAXA
• "JAXA 2025" Presentation
• RAND Report on Japan's Space Program, 2005
• CSIS Report on US-Japan Space Policy Cooperation, 2003
• GOSAT satellite

These three links are archived sites of the JAXA predecessor agencies:

• NASDA
• ISAS
• NAL