Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aerospace agency. JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003 through the merger of three previously independent organizations. JAXA has already successfully placed a satellite into orbit, and is involved in many other missions such as asteroid exploration and a possible manned mission to the moon.
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History
On October 1, 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA. Japan's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science (or ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA).
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 a part of the International Space Station. The old NASDA headquarters were located at the current site of the Tanegashima Space Center, on Tanegashima Island, 115 kilometers south of Kyushu.
Launch Development and 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-2A rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, placing a satellite into orbit on February 26, 2005.
In 2003, Hayabusa was launched from a M-5 rocket. The goal of this mission is to collect samples from an asteroid. The craft is scheduled to space rendezvous in November 2005, and return to Earth with samples from the asteroid by July 2007.
In 2007 the satellite GOSAT (Greenhouse gas Observing SATellite) is to be launched to help scientist determine and monitor the distribution of density 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 is collected. Since the number of ground based carbon dioxide observatories can't monitor enough of the world's atmosphere, and are distributed unevenly throughout the globe, the GOSAT is being sent up to gain more accurate data and fill in the gaps on the globe were 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 1650kg and is expected to have a life span of 5 years.
Two astronomy missions are scheduled to launch by April 2006. Also, a mission is planned for 2007/2008 with a probe to Venus, and JAXA is in cooperation with the European Space Agency for a joint mission to Mercury. JAXA also plans to field its new H-IIB rocket in 2008.
As JAXA shifts away from international efforts beginning in 2005, plans are developing for independent space missions, such as a proposed manned mission to the moon.
Controversy
Development of the M-5 rocket was lobbied for by right-wing politicians, because of its possible military applications. [1]
Supersonic Aircraft Development
Besides the H-2A and M-5 rockets, JAXA is also developing a next-generation supersonic transport that could become the commercial replacement for the Concorde. The design goal of the project is to develop a a plane that can carry 300 passengers at Mach 2. A subscale model of the plane underwent aerodynamic testing in September and October of 2005 in Australia. [2]
Research Centers and Offices
JAXA has research centers in many locations in Japan, and some offices overseas. Its headquarters are in Chofu, Tokyo. It also has
- 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 - Development of experimental equipment for rockets and satellites. Also administrative buildings.
- 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.
External links
| National Space Programmes | ||
| Human spaceflight : USSR / Russia | United States | China (PRC) | ||
| Brazil | Canada | Europe ( France, Germany, Italy) | Japan | India | South Korea | Taiwan (ROC) | Ukraine | ||
