Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

JAXA is abbreviation from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellitesinto orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon. Its motto is One JAXA and its corporate slogan is Explore to Realize (formerly Reaching for the skies, exploring space)

Last Friday, we visited JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center. JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) is located in Tsukuba Science City, already operating since 1972. TKSC total area reach 530,000 square-meter site, include with parks, monument, museum, education facility and high tech operational facility. JAXA TKSC main task are;

• Development and operation of satellites, which are eyes from space, and analysis of acquired observation data (images).

• Space environment utilization using the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station, providing astronaut training, and promoting manned space activities.

• Development of launch vehicles and other space transportation systems and technological research promotion.

JAXA TKSC has several exhibitions which open for public.

• Space Dome

In this facility show us about the development of Japan’s space exploration. You can see various kinds of satellite and rocket, astronaut suit and equipment, explanation of various missions, and also Japan’s space module that attached to ISS

• H-II Launch Vehicle

You can see real scale H-II rocket near the front gate

• Rocket Launching Video

You can experience watching rocket launching from 3Km away.

The most interesting explanation in this visit is about Kedama fish that brought to space and now undergo experiment to see the change in their descendants.

#JAXA #SPACE #JAPAN