JAXA
On the 1st of October 2003, three previously independent organizations merged to form the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science handled planetary research while the National Aerospace Laboratory focused on aviation. The National Space Development Agency built rockets and communication satellites from its base on Tanegashima Island. This consolidation created a single entity under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The agency adopted the motto One JAXA and the slogan Explore to Realize. In 2008, the Basic Space Law shifted jurisdiction from MEXT to the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development in the Cabinet. Political control moved further to the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office through a new Space Strategy Office by January 2017. New legislation in 2012 expanded JAXA's remit beyond peaceful purposes to include missile early warning systems. The agency received the John L. Jack Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration in 2008. President Keiji Tachikawa led the organization from 2004 until 2013. A new head for interplanetary missions was appointed as Hayabusa project manager Kawaguchi.
Japan launched its first satellite Ohsumi in 1970 using an ISAS L-4S rocket. NASDA developed larger liquid-fueled launchers after licensing American models initially. The H-II rocket introduced in 1994 became the foundation for future vehicles with its LE-7 engine. This engine used a staged combustion cycle that remained the basic configuration for thirty years from 1994 to 2024. JAXA took over operations of the H-IIA and M-V solid-fuel launch vehicle after the 2003 merger. An H-IIA No. 6 failure occurred in November 2003 but all other launches succeeded. As of June 2025, the H-IIA had successfully launched 48 of its 49 attempts before retiring on Flight No. 50. The Epsilon rocket replaced the retired M-V with a maiden flight in 2013. Six flights have occurred so far with one launch failure. In January 2017, a failed attempt to orbit a miniature satellite led to success on the 2nd of February 2018. That second attempt put a four kilogram CubeSat into Earth orbit aboard the SS-520-5 rocket. This launcher holds the title of world's smallest orbital launcher. JAXA began operating the H3 in 2023 as a completely new design rather than an improved version. The H3 uses an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine for the first time globally.
Japan sent its first missions beyond Earth orbit with the 1985 Halley's Comet observation spacecraft Sakigake and Suisei. The Mars Orbiter Nozmi launched in 1998 passed Mars in 2003 but failed to reach orbit due to maneuvering system failures. Hayabusa launched from an M-V rocket on the 9th of May 2003 aimed to collect samples from asteroid 25143 Itokawa. The craft rendezvoused with the asteroid in September 2005 and confirmed landing in November 2005. Samples returned to Earth on the 13th of June 2010 making it the first spacecraft to return asteroid samples. Hayabusa2 launched in 2014 and returned samples from asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2020. The lunar orbit explorer Kaguya launched on the 14th of September 2007 entered lunar orbit on the 4th of October 2007. This mission impacted the surface on the 10th of June 2009 after one year and eight months of operation. SLIM landed successfully on the 19th of January 2024 at 15:20 UTC making Japan the fifth country to achieve a soft landing. The lander touched down 55 meters from its target site achieving world-first pinpoint landing accuracy. Two rovers LEV-1 and LEV-2 deployed during hovering just before final landing worked as expected. LEV-1 conducted seven hops over 107 minutes while LEV-2 showed damage to an engine nozzle. Akatsuki failed Venus orbit insertion on the 7th of December 2010 but finally entered orbit on the 7th of December 2015.
The first Japanese astronomy mission was the X-ray satellite Hakucho launched in 1979. ISAS moved into solar observation and infrared astronomy through space VLBI later. The Akari spacecraft launched on the 21st of February 2006 carried a 68 cm telescope for all sky survey since 1983. Suzaku launched on the 10th of July 2005 included three instruments including an X-ray spectrometer and hard X-ray detector. Hitomi launched on the 17th of February 2016 served as the successor to Suzaku. MAXI continuously monitors astronomical X-ray objects over a broad energy band installed on the ISS external module. HALCA launched in 1997 became the world's first spacecraft dedicated to conduct space VLBI observations of pulsars. The observation part lasted until 2003 and the satellite retired at the end of 2005. Japan funded ASTRO-G as the succeeding mission in FY 2006 before canceling it in 2011. The Hinode spacecraft launched on the 23rd of September 2006 followed the joint Yohkoh mission from the early 1980s. A SOLAR-C could be expected sometime after 2020 without details worked out yet.
Japan has ten astronauts but has not yet developed its own crewed spacecraft officially. Toyohiro Akiyama became the first Japanese citizen to fly in space on Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than seven days in space on the Mir station earning $14 million for the Soviets. Mamoru Mohri flew as Payload Specialist for Spacelab-J on STS-47 in September 1992. This flight included one of the European built Spacelab modules designated Japan. Three other NASA Space Shuttle missions delivered parts of the Kibō module to ISS between 2008 and 2009. Plans for a crewed lunar landing were shelved in early 2010 due to budget constraints. JAXA discovered a tunnel-like lava tube under the Moon surface on the 18th of October 2017 suitable for future bases. The agency collaborates with international partners including flights on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS. Projects like HOPE-X and Fuji capsule were proposed or postponed without adoption. The economic success of supersonic transport projects remains unclear despite testing in Australia during 2005.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency formed?
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency was established on the 1st of October 2003. This entity resulted from the merger of three previously independent organizations including the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the National Aerospace Laboratory, and the National Space Development Agency.
What is the history of JAXA rocket development programs?
JAXA operates the H-IIA rocket which successfully launched 48 of its 49 attempts before retiring on Flight No. 50 as of June 2025. The agency also began operating the H3 in 2023 using an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine globally.
Which missions did JAXA send to explore asteroids and the Moon?
JAXA sent Hayabusa to collect samples from asteroid 25143 Itokawa returning them to Earth on the 13th of June 2010. The SLIM lander achieved a soft landing on the 19th of January 2024 making Japan the fifth country to achieve this feat with pinpoint accuracy.
How many astronauts does JAXA have and what spacecraft do they use?
Japan has ten astronauts but has not yet developed its own crewed spacecraft officially. These astronauts fly on international partners including Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS or participate in NASA Space Shuttle missions like STS-47.
When was the Basic Space Law passed regarding JAXA jurisdiction?
The Basic Space Law shifted jurisdiction from MEXT to the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development in the Cabinet in 2008. Political control moved further to the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office through a new Space Strategy Office by January 2017.