28 Facts About JAXA

1.

JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions such as asteroid exploration and possible human exploration of the Moon.

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2.

JAXA was formed as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications .

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3.

Basic Space Law was passed in 2008, and the jurisdictional authority of JAXA moved from MEXT to the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister.

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4.

Political control of JAXA passed from MEXT to the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office through a new Space Strategy Office.

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5.

JAXA has research centres in many locations in Japan, and some offices overseas.

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6.

JAXA uses the H-IIA rocket from the former NASDA body and its variant H-IIB to launch engineering test satellites, weather satellites, etc.

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7.

JAXA was awarded the Space Foundation's John L "Jack" Swigert Jr.

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8.

In January 2017, JAXA attempted and failed to put a miniature satellite into orbit atop one of its SS520 series rockets.

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9.

In January 2021, JAXA shipped an H3 rocket to Tanegashima Space Center to begin launch trials, in an effort to phase out and replace the H-IIA series.

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10.

However, for FY 2008 JAXA is planning to set up an independent working group within the organization.

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11.

On 14 September 2007, JAXA succeeded in launching the lunar orbit explorer Kaguya, known as SELENE, the largest such mission since the Apollo program, on an H-2A rocket.

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12.

JAXA's contribution includes providing components of the RPWI, PEP, GALA instruments.

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13.

JAXA is reviewing a new spacecraft mission to the Martian system; a sample return mission to Phobos called MMX .

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14.

In February 2018, JAXA announced a research collaboration with Sony to test a laser communication system from the Kibo module in late 2018.

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15.

On 23 February 2008, JAXA launched the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite, called "KIZUNA".

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16.

On 11 September 2010, JAXA launched QZS-1, the first satellite of the Quasi Zenith Satellite System, a subsystem of the global positioning system .

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17.

On 24 August 2005, JAXA launched the experimental satellites OICETS and INDEX on a Ukrainian Dnepr rocket.

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18.

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.

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19.

In January 2006, JAXA successfully launched the Advanced Land Observation Satellite .

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20.

For missions following Daichi, JAXA opted to separate it into a radar satellite and an optical satellite .

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21.

JAXA is building the satellite while the Ministry is in charge of the data that will be collected.

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22.

JAXA provided the Light Particle Telescope for the 2008 Jason 2 satellite by the French CNES.

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23.

On 11 May 2018, JAXA deployed the first satellite developed in Kenya from the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station.

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24.

JAXA will provide the Auroral Electron Sensor for the Taiwanese FORMOSAT-5.

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25.

JAXA spent more than seven days in space on the Mir space station, in what the Soviets called their first commercial spaceflight which allowed them to earn $14 million.

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26.

On 18 October 2017, JAXA discovered a "tunnel"-like lava tube under the surface of the Moon.

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27.

In 2015, JAXA performed tests aimed at reducing the effects of supersonic flight under the D-SEND program.

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28.

Until 2003, JAXA conducted research on a reusable launch vehicle under the Reusable Vehicle Testing project.

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