Japanese Space

Japan’s Astro-H X-Ray Observatory Goes Dark (Update – Breaks Up)

Japan’s Astro-H X-Ray Observatory Goes Dark (Update – Breaks Up)

Update: The U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Space Operations Center has indicated that Astro-H has broken up. Update: Analysis shows ASTRO H breakup occurred 26Mar @ 0142z+/- 11mins. JSpOC confirmed breakup @ 0820z. @JAXA_en @SpaceTrackOrg — JSpOC (@JointSpaceOps) March 28, 2016 Original story: The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA has lost communications with the Astro-H X-ray astronomy […]

Posted in: Japanese Space
Flying the Busy Skies: UAE Signs Japan’s H-IIA for 2020 Mars Launch

Flying the Busy Skies: UAE Signs Japan’s H-IIA for 2020 Mars Launch

The space lanes between Earth and Mars about to get rather crowded during the 2020 orbital launch window. The latest news comes from the United Arab Emirates, and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, who have announced a contract for Japan’s H-IIA launch vehicle to boost UAE’s HOPE mission to the Red Planet in 2020. Previous reports […]

Posted in: Japanese Space, Mars
German, Japanese Space Programs Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement

German, Japanese Space Programs Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement

The German and Japanese Space agencies have announced a strategic partnership agreement which seeks to leverage both nations’ technological expertise to strengthen commercial and scientific space efforts. Among the items specifically cited in the press release is research into reusable launchers. DLR and JAXA strengthen cooperation JAXA Press Release: Today (25 February 2016), the German […]

Japanese Cargo Vessel HTV-5 On the Way to ISS

Japanese Cargo Vessel HTV-5 On the Way to ISS

After waiting out several days of rainy weather, a Japanese H-IIB rocket took advantage of a weather window which may end in a Super Typhoon and lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 7:50 PM JST/ 7:50 AM EDT, carrying the HTV-5 cargo vessel to the International Space Station. Accompanied by its characteristic banshee-like […]

HTV-5 Launch to ISS Now Scheduled for Wednesday

HTV-5 Launch to ISS Now Scheduled for Wednesday

The next supply mission to the International Space Station will have to wait a few more days. Over the weekend, Mitsubishi Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) elected to delay Sunday’s planned launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI5” or  (HTV5), due to concerns over weather at the Tanegashima Space Center. The new […]

JAXA (Japan’s Space Agency) 2013-2014 Video Update

JAXA (Japan’s Space Agency) 2013-2014 Video Update

  With the current focus on difficulties in the U.S./Russian relationship and its implications for the International Space Station, it may be easy to overlook the fact that both Europe and Japan are major partners in the station as well. This English language video gives a good overview of the Japanese space program’s activities in […]

Posted in: Japanese Space
Japan Formally Selects Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Build its Flagship Launch Vehicle

Japan Formally Selects Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Build its Flagship Launch Vehicle

  JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, announced today that it has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop Japan’s next generation, flagship launch vehicle. From the official announcement: “The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) made an announcement to the private sector on February 27, 2014, to compare their proposals and select a prime contractor who can […]

GPM Lifts Off Aboard Japan’s  H-IIA Booster

GPM Lifts Off Aboard Japan’s H-IIA Booster

The joint NASA/JAXA GPM Core Observatory lifted off today from the Japanese Space Agency’s Tanagashima Launch Complex, successfully deploying from its carrier rocket moments later. Today’s launch took place aboard the H-IIA rocket, which is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The H-II family consists of two boosters, the H-IIA and the larger and more powerful […]

Posted in: Japanese Space
GPM Core Observatory Ready for Thursday Launch

GPM Core Observatory Ready for Thursday Launch

Officials with NASA and the Japanese Space Agency JAXA have given the go ahead for tomorrow’s launch of the Global Participation (GPM) Core Observatory, a precipitation measuring satellite which will launch from Japan aboard a HII-A rocket. Liftoff is scheduled during a one hour window beginning at 1:37 pm EST, 3:37 am Japan Standard Time, […]

Posted in: Japanese Space, NASA
Epsilon Launch Successful

Epsilon Launch Successful

JAXA Press Release Launch Result of Epsilon-1 with SPRINT-A aboard September 14, 2013 (JST) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-1) with the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) onboard at 2:00 p.m. on September 14 (Sat.), 2013 (Japan Standard Time, JST) […]

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